8
other cases, the decreases are explained either by the sporadic incidence of small
pox or by the smaller number of unprotected cases available for vaccination.
In many municipalities vaccination work is still very unsatisfactory, this
being due not only to the want of effective supervision, such as can be exercised
by a Health Officer, but also to the continued employment of unqualified men as
vaccinators. The number of municipalities employing trained Health Officers is
steadily increasing and improved supervision of vaccination may therefore be
expected in these towns. Irrespective of the employment of a Health Officer,
however, it is of the utmost importance that every vaccinator should possess
the qualifications prescribed in G.O. No. 1167, L. & M., dated 4th April
1925. The suggestion is made to Government that Municipal Councils employing
vaccinators not possessing these qualifications should be surcharged with the
salaries of these subordinates. Until some such step is taken, it is doubtful if
any improvement will be effected.
17. Infantile vaccination in municipalities.—The rates varied from a minimum
of 40.2 in Karur to a maximum of 127.1 in Hospet. Wide divergences of this kind
can only be attributed to laxity in the administration of vaccination or in the
registration of vital statistics.
The greatest increases were recorded by Parlākimedi (+71.6), Vāniyambādi
(+43.5),Nandyal ( + 39.9), Anantapur ( + 34.4), Hospet (+29.0), Tadpatri (+26.6),
Cannanore (+24.8), and Srīvilliputtūr (+24.2), whilst decreases were most marked
in Coonoor (—3.3), Berhampur (—9.1), Peddāpuram (—24.6), Sivakāsi
(-23.4), Coimbatore(-22.4), Vellore (-19.3), Virudhunagar (-17.9), Salem
(-14.6), Gudiyāttam (-14.3), Tanjore (-13.7), Chicacole (-13.3) and
Dharapuram (-10.3).
18. The percentages of success for the different administrative areas of the
Presidency are given below :—
Number of cases,
excluding
unknown
21,365
1,300,102
118,591
Area.
Government ...
Local Fund ...
Municipal ...
Kind of lymph.
Glycerine ... ...
Do.
...
...
Do. ... ...
Whence obtained.
King Institute, Guindy ... ...
Do.
...
...
Do.
...
...
Percentage of
success.
91.8
94.3
97.5
The first line in the table refers wholly to cases performed in the Agency
Tracts. The lower success rate in this area is due partly to the deterioration of
the lymph during transit and partly to delay in its use. This latter cause probably
also explains the difference between the success rates of local fund and municipal
areas.
19. 20,227 deaths were registered in the year under report as due to smallpox,
a decrease of about 2,000 as compared with the previous year. More than half of
the total mortality was recorded in the districts of South Arcot (2,506), Salem
(1,726), Kistna (1,597), North Arcot (1,259), Guntūr (1,248), Anantapur (1,036)
and Gōdāvari (1,012).
A high mortality was also recorded in the towns of Rajahmundry (579),
Madras (543), Palakole (119), Vizagapatam (86), Ongole (79) and Cocanada (72).
20. The conduct and work of the Health Inspectors have been generally
satisfactory. One hundred and fifty-three out of 229 Health Inspectors inspected
more than the prescribed minimum of 85 per cent of the cases. In a number of
taluks epidemic duties interfered with inspection work, and suitable notice has
been taken of those cases where no satisfactory explanation of defective work
was made.
21. In paragraph 35 of last year's report, the attention of Government
was drawn to the progress made in vaccination work as a result of the introduc
tion of an organized District Health Scheme. It is pleasing to be able to state
that this progress has been fully maintained. During the year under report, the
total number of vaccination operations for the first time on record exceeded the