xix
It is interesting to note in comparing this chart with a similar one given in last
year's report that the vaseline vaccine paste gives the best results in January, reaching
the same figure, 94.5 per cent., in both years—a higher percentage than ever obtained by
buffalo lymph. The results for May and June are similar for both years, but while in this
year's chart the percentage of success for vaseline vaccine paste was high in April and low in
September, the reverse was the case last year. This year's chart shows that with buffalo
lymph the results obtained in September were about the average, while in the same
month of last year the line showing the results of this lymph reached its lowest point
61.81. This year the lowest percentage of success of buffalo lymph was 70.65 in July, and
of vaseline vaccine paste 70.85 in June. During my tours of inspections I noted the
appearance of the scars produced by vaccination with buffalo lymph and with vaseline
paste, and was considerably impressed with the appearance of the scars resulting from the
latter which showed the well-known pitted appearance much better than did those produced
by buffalo lymph. This may have been due to the fact that scarification is necessary for
vaccination with vaseline paste, while buffalo lymph is often introduced by a puncture of
the skin. Everywhere the people were greatly in favor of vaseline vaccine paste, " Shisha
kílág" as they called it. It saved them the trouble connected with the use of their
buffalo calves as vaccinifers, and the Hindús remarked that it also spared them seeing
the " Kattis " vaccinated. Many persons seemed to place more faith in the vaseline
paste, declaring that it gave better results. I do not know whether this was their real
opinion, or was said in the hope that vaseline paste might always be employed in future.
There is no doubt that the people prefer it to human or buffalo lymph.
17. The animal lymph depôt was stationed at Murree from 1st April to 31st
October 1898, and at Amritsar from 1st November 1898 to 31st March 1899. As has been
the case since 1896 only vaseline vaccine paste was prepared at the depôt during
the year under report. At Murree during the hot weather 1,374 tubes of vaseline paste were
prepared, 93 were used in the annual supply sent out on 23rd September 1898 to the
various districts of the Punjab. The results of these tubes were—
Successful ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Unsuccessful ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Kept in stock ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Lost or broken in transit ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Returned unused ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Results unknown ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
890
46
73
4
126
235
Of the 93 tubes sent out for the annual supply all gave successful results, but
the Simla District did not use the 2 tubes sent out to them; while no results of the
2 tubes supplied to the Hazára District were received. During the winter months 1,792
tubes were prepared at Amritsar. The results are as follows :—
Successful
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Unsuccessful ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Returned unused ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Lost or broken in transit ... ... ... ... ... ...
Kept in stock ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Results unknown ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
1,123
7
32
11
110
509
Altogether 3,166 tubes were prepared this year, which is more by 316 than the
number made last year, and by 1,179 than made in 1896-97. Of the tubes supplied this
year 63.58 per cent. gave successful results. Last year the results of only 47.33 of the
tubes prepared were successful, while in 1896-97 the percentage of success was 70.36.
The results of a large number of tubes are unknown, the medical officers and others
to whom they were sent not having furnished the information they were requested
to give. Besides the regular supply to the Special Staff and to the Civil Surgeons of
Jullundur and Ludhiána vaseline vaccine paste has been sent during the year under
report to the Civil Surgeons of every district in the Punjab. Small amounts have been
sent to the medical officers of the following regiments and hospitals, and to other persons
mentioned below :—
Medical Officer in charge Station Hospital, B. T. ... ... ...
„
„ 25th Punjab Infantry ... ... ... ... ...
„
„ 9th Gurkha Rifles
...
...
...
...
...
.„
„ 3 U.B.R.A.
...
...
...
...
...
...
.„
„ 34th Pioneers Hospital
...
...
...
...
„
„
1st Company Sappers and Miners ... ... ...
„
„ in charge Royal Scots Fusiliers
...
...
...
„
„
„
„
Station Hospital
...
...
...
...
.„
„ 17th Bengal Cavalry ... ... ... ... ...
„
„ 40th Patháns ... ... ... ... ... ...
„
„ Patiála State
...
...
...
...
...
...
„
„ in charge Station Hospital ... ... ... ...
„
„ 19th Bengal Lancers ... ... ... ... ...
Ráwalpindi.
„
Landikotal.
„
„
„
„
Ráwalpindi.
Meean Meer.
„
Patiála.
Campbellpore.
Loralai.