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and municipalities during the year is shown in the annexed diagrams. The year
under report recorded the highest number of deaths in the Northern Range, the
majority of which occurred in the local fund areas. The largest number of
deaths was recorded in South Arcot (1,754) and the lowest in Kurnool (244).
Though vaccination was compulsory in the South Arcot district, the recorded
birth rate is the lowest in the Central Range, viz., 24.5. Imperfect registration is
evidently the root cause of the high prevalence of this disease in this district. In
the Southern Range, the mortality from smallpox was 10,512 during 1922
against 2,846 in 1921, an enormous increase. The eastern districts were very
badly affected. Amongst municipalities, Madura, Cochin, Palghat and Coimbatore
suffered badly and in the latter two towns vaccination and re-vaccination were
carried out in a most unsatisfactory fashion.
In the Agency, 6 ranges out of 9 were free from smallpox. In the other
3 ranges the total number of attacks were 250 and deaths 32.
22. The conduct and work of the Health Inspectors has been generally
satisfactory during the year under report. Inspection of vaccinated cases by
Health Inspectors was on the whole fair, 99 Health Inspectors having verified
over 75 per cent and 53 below 75 per cent. Suitable notice has been taken of
those Health Inspectors who failed to reach the minimum percentage of verifi
cations.
23. During the year under report 5 Health Inspectors were punished with
fine, two with suspension and one with stoppage of increment.
24. The Service Registers of all Health Inspectors are verified in this office.
25. With reference to Government Memorandum No. 5265-1 P.H., dated
25th May 1922, I append herewith a consolidated statement showing the
quantity of lymph supplied to municipalities during 1922.
There was a general increase in the demand for vaccine lymph in the
following municipalities over that of 1921 :—
Adōni, Anantapur, Chingleput, Chittoor, Cochin, Calicut, Cuddapah,
Hospet, Hindupur, Ootacamund, Coonoor, Coimbatore, Salem, Tadpatri,
Tinnevelly, Madura, Trichinopoly, Vāniyambādi, Villupuram, Walajapet
and Madras. This was generally due to the prevalence of smallpox in epidemic
form. Thirty-seven towns showed a decrease ranging from 5 in the case of
Bodinayakkanūr to 335 in Guntūr. The decrease was attributable to the visitation
of plague in certain towns, absence of smallpox, the large number of unprotected
children available for vaccination, lack of increased vaccination and to the very
low monthly minimum fixed for vaccinators.
The Assistant Director of Public Health (Northern Range) pointed out that
the minimum of municipal vaccinators should be increased as they have not got
to encounter the difficulties of the rural vaccinator who has to travel on foot from
village after village. He therefore recommends a cent per cent increase, or a
minimum of 50 cases per 1,000 of population per annum.
26. In paragraph 4 of G.O. No. 765-A-P.H., dated 1st June 1922, the local
bodies and municipalities were asked to report on—
(a) The percentage of unprotected persons to the total population,
(b) Steps taken to ensure better maintenance of birth registers,
(c) Number of vaccinators employed,
(d) The insertion success rate attained,
(e) Condition of vaccinators' equipment,
(f) Committees formed and propaganda work done by them,
(g) Steps taken to extend re-vaccination, and
(h) Arrangements made for educating public opinion.
Most of the replies reveal a sad state of affairs. The following is a typical
one of its kind and is given here in extenso for the information of Government:—
" (a) The percentage of unprotected persons to the total population.—The
Taluk Boards are quite unable to give any statement of figures under this
head. They say that, under the present system of working, it is not feasible to
secure accurate figures or to give the exact information required. From their
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