30
Age.
11. With regard to age the year 1872-73 shows an improvement, inasmuch as the
proportion of children vaccinated under one year of age is
greater than in the previous year—the numbers being in
1871-72, 28,626 under and 45,106 above one year; in 1872-73, 32,098 under and 41,386
above one year ; or per cent. 38.8 under and 61.2 above one year in 1871-72, and 43.6 under
and 56.4 above one year in 1872-73.
Population.
12. With reference to the remarks made by Dr. Turnbull in para. 14 of the Superinten-
dent General's Report on Vaccination for 1871-72, it is im-
possible to give correct data for calculating the probable
number of children that might be vaccinated annually until the census returns are furnished,
and something like accurate registration of births and deaths be carried out. In the pro-
vince the total number of persons vaccinated annually will probably vary a good deal accord-
ing to whether many or few come from foreign territories to be vaccinated.
Percentage of Success.
13. In primary vaccination the degree of success is 97.2 per cent.; in re-vaccination 69.3.
The success in re-vaccination ranges from 100 to 28.9 per
cent. This is due, I believe, to a difference of opinion amongst
vaccinators as to what constitutes a successful re-vaccination. One will consider a case
successful, no matter how far modified, so long as a vesicle appears; another will enter a case
as " unsuccessful or doubtful" unless it runs a course similar to that of a primary vaccination.
Re-vaccination after small-pox, inoculation with small-pox virus, and vaccination show
a very similar degree of success. Re-vaccination is not yet popular, but I hope that in a few
years people will accept it as readily as they do " primary " vacccination.
14. On the subject of re-vaccination I transcribe remarks made by Honorary Assist-
ant Surgeon Leahy, M.R.C.S., of Sakkhar—
" With a few exceptions the whole of these cases were Patháns, who, becoming alarmed
at the death of one of their number from small-pox, came of their own accord to the dis-
pensary to be vaccinated. Many of them had previously been inoculated (on the wrist),
and a few bore marks of having had small-pox. The percentage of success was 83.33.
The year before last an attempt was made to induce the people of Sakkhar to undergo
re-vaccination. A few submitted, but the feeling against the measure was so strong that on
the advice of Major Wallace, then Collector of the district, whom I consulted on the matter,
I gave it up. Major Wallace was of opinion that preseverance in trying to introduce
re-vaccination would probably arouse a spirit of opposition to primary vaccination.
It
struck me at the time that it was of very little use to endeavour to push re-vaccination among
male adults or boys, seeing that it was hopeless to expect the female portion of the com-
munity to submit to the operation."
Dispensaries.
15. This year there are 21 dispensaries on the list, against 19 in the previous year.
The two additional dispensaries are those of Manorá and
Goádar. They show a total number of 2,455 persons vac-
cinated against 2,099 in 1871-72. There is usually no expense connected with vaccination
performed at dispensaries in Sind, beyond, perhaps, a rupee a year for vaccinifers from the
táluká. But at Ládkháná and Rohrí there is an allowance given for vaccinating. In the
former the total cost was Rs. 14-4-0 and in the latter Rs. 192, the payments including peons'
salaries. Judging by the number vaccinated, these payments have a good effect in stimulating
those in charge of the dispensaries to work at vaccination.
Almost all complain of great difficulty in obtaining subjects for vaccination, owing to the
objections of the Hindús on religious grounds. But the Mukhtiárkárs seem to have very con-
siderable influence over the people, and I think that obstruction by the people means very
often a want of active sympathy with vaccination on the part of Mukhtiárkárs.