xiv
6. There has been a marked decrease in re-vaccinations, only 14,742 operations
having been performed as compared with 31,104 in 1897-98, and 34,113 in 1896-97.
With regard to re-vaccination I would draw attention to the remarks made on the
subject by Captain James in his report for the year 1895-96. It had been found that a
large number of unnecessary re-vaccinations had been performed in order to swell the
returns, and stringent orders had been issued against indiscriminate re-vaccinations.
This led to a marked fall in the number of re-vaccinations performed from 24,657 in
1894-95 to 17,597 in 1895-96. During the latter year further instructions were issued
directing the Vaccinators to re-vaccinate wherever it was necessary, and reminding them
of the Lieutenant-Governor's orders that a second vaccination was permitted seven years
after the first. These instructions were followed by a very marked increase in the number
of re-vaccinations returned, the number being 34,113 in 1896-97, nearly double of the
previous year, and 31,104 in 1897-98. The number of re-vaccinations recorded this year,
14,742, is less than half the number returned last year. But it should be noted that during
the year 1897-98 the Vaccinators of the Special Staff worked in the large Native Hill
States where re-vaccination is more readily submitted to, and that in Chamba alone they
performed, according to their returns, 17,444 re-vaccinations. I am inclined to believe,
however, that even the figures returned for this year (14,742) are in excess of the
actual number of operations performed. For there are considerable difficulties in the
way of re-vaccination. Children of an age suitable for re-vaccination are largely em-
ployed in agricultural work, tending cattle, and similar occupations which keep them in
the fields and jungle often at some distance from their villages. They are thus difficult
to reach, and may be safely trusted to place every obstacle they can in the way of the
Vaccinators in addition to those offered by their parents. During the two and-a-half
months that I have been inspecting vaccinations I have only been able to see 21, re¬
vaccinated children, though I saw over 5,000 vaccinated babies, while, it will be noticed,
that the number of re-vaccinations returned for the year under report is nearly a quarter
of that given for primary vaccination. The names of large numbers of children were
entered in the Vaccinators' returns as having been re-vaccinated, but the children
were almost invariably absent at my inspection, and I cannot avoid the suspicion that if
these children could not be produced for the inspection of the " Sáhib " they were less
likely to have been presented to the Vaccinators. It should be noted, however, that
the large majority of re-vaccinations were performed in Native Hill States which I have
not visited.
7. Several causes have been in operation during the year under report tending to
diminish the work of the Special Staff. In the first place owing to the employment of
the Deputy Sanitary Commissioner on plague duty for the greater portion of the year, the
Vaccinators were deprived of the incentive to the proper discharge of their duties afforded
by periodical inspections of their work. There was considerable delay, also due to the-
same cause, in dealing with certain cases of misconduct among the members of the
Special Staff, and the services of a Native Supervisor and two Vaccinators were thus lost
to the State for some months. The most marked decrease in the work of the Special Staff
occurred during the hot weather when the Vaccinators were working in the small Hill
States under the superintendence of the Deputy Commissioner of Simla. This decrease
is largely attributable to a lack of assistance on the part of the authorities concerned,
which has already been reported to you. (This office letter No. 2588 of 9th October
1898). The decrease of work during the month of October is attributable to the quarrels
and misconduct of the Native Supervisor and Vaccinators working in the Bhera tahsíl
of the Shahpur district. A further reference will be made to this matter under the head-
ing, of " punishments." During the month of November to February inclusive, there was
an increase in, the number of vaccinations performed as compared with the corresponding
months of last. year. In March there was a decrease, but this was due to a group of'
Vaccinators having been sent from the plains to Sirmoor State, several days haying
been occupied in this journey.
8. In accordance with your Circular No. 3, dated 20th April 1899, I subjoin some
details on the subject of the working of the Vaccinators in bodies and in pairs. I would
point out, however, that as there are only two Native Supervisors in the Special Staff
while the 21 Vaccinators are divided into three groups a just comparison of the two
methods cannot be made, as the advantage claimed for the method of the Vaccinators
working in bodies is that the,Native Supervisors are better able to supervise the work
of-the Vaccinators than if the latter were scattered in pairs. Moreover, the present year
is, particularly unfavorable for instituting such a comparison, for one of the Native Super-
visors was under suspension for five months, and the other was frequently sick and unable
to perform his duties. For the purpose of making a comparison between the two
methods the details of work done in the tahsíls of Bhera in the Shahpur District and of
Chakwál in the Jhelum District, by the same group of Vaccinators is given below. These
two tahsils are chosen, because of their similarity as regards the density of population.
In the former tahsíl the, Vaccinators worked in a body as at first they had a Native
Supervisor with them. In the Chakwál tahsíl the Native Supervisor having been
suspended the Vaccinators worked in pairs. The results, as will be seen below, are that,
on the average each Vaccinator did 10 vaccinations per day while they were working