3
In Chittagong and Jalpaiguri special efforts were made by the vaccinating staff
owing to an outbreak of small-pox. Chittagong obtained the highest results on record
for the district. The Civil Surgeons of both districts report on the good work done
by the staff.
In Faridpur some difficulty was at first experienced on account of the swadeshi
movement; European vaccination being held contraband. But on the advice of the
Civil Surgeon the District Magistrate and the Subdivisional Officer at Madaripur issued
notices calling on the headmen of the villages, in which there was opposition, to show
cause why vaccination should not be made compulsory in their villages. The result
was an increase of 18,837 primary operations.
The Civil Surgeon of Rangpur, though he shows a total increase of 3,520 opera-
tions, points out that there was an increase of 8,153 primary vaccinations, and that
these were discounted by a fall of 4,068 in the re-vaccinations which are only possible
on a large scale during outbreaks of small-pox, such as occurred in 1904-1905.
In Rajshahi the highest results in the last ten years were recorded. Both in this
district and in Noakhali and Dinajpur the Civil Surgeons report that the vaccination
staff did good all round-work.
Those districts which show a decrease on last year's totals are :—
Dacca
...
...
...
...
Tippera
... ... ... ...
Bakarganj ... ... ... ...
Kamrup ... ... ... ...
Sylhet... ... ... ...
Goalpara
... ... ... ...
—21,000
— 9,000
— 8,000
— 6,000
— 4,000
— 2,000
The Civil Surgeon of Dacca explains that the year 1904-1905 was one of special
activity owing to an outbreak of small-pox. The operations of that year considerably
exceeded the average, this season's appearing small by comparison.
In an interesting report from Bakarganj, the Civil Surgeon reports the deficiency
as being largely due to the swadeshi movement. Only 68 vaccinators out of 80
came for their licenses at the beginning of the season, and of those 68, only 56 actually
worked. Nevertheless the average number of operations performed by each vaccinator
rose from 1,250 to 1,441.
The deficiency in Kamrup, Sylhet, and Goalpara was due to heavy floods at the
beginning of the season, and a subsequent outbreak of cholera.
The Civil Surgeon of Tippera gives no explanation of the deficiency.
Composition and strength of the
Special Inspecting Agency.
8.
Inspectors 34(19 in Assam and 15 in Eastern Bengal).
Sub-Inspectors.41 (all in Eastern Bengal).
The amalgamation of the Assam and Bengal Inspecting
agencies is under consideration.
Verification
by
Inspecting
Officers.
9. The results of inspections will be found on reference to Statement V. Some
of the Civil Surgeons remark that the percentage of the
inspections would have been higher had not the officers
spent their time dealing with epidemics of cholera and in
overcoming the scruples of those who were unwilling to be vaccinated.
Working of the compulsory
Vaccination Acts.
10. Of 10,410 children available within compulsory areas, 7,390 were successfully
vaccinated.
In the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra and Faridpur districts the Civil
Surgeons report that practically all infants were vaccinated.
In Barisal, where the returns had not been satisfactory in previous years, the Civil
Surgeon made special efforts. Two hundred and seventy-four notices requiring
vaccination were issued, and 89 cases were reported to the Magistrate with successful
results.
In Dacca only 609 infants out of 1,789 available were vaccinated, and in Gauhati
only 29 out of 210. In the latter case the Civil Surgeon reports that the municipal
vaccinator was dismissed for falsifying his records. In Barpeta there was no vaccina-
tion.
In English Bazar, Malda, and Nawabganj, out of 1,106 infants, only 273 were
vaccinated. In Nawabganj there is opposition from the Ferazi Muhammedans.
In the compulsory areas of Mymensingh, except in Jamalpur, Sherpur, and
Tangail, infant vaccination has not been very successful.