Part II.]
VACCINATION IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES.
63
Separate system in
Bundlecund.
The figures for Bundlecund, though incorporated in the statement, do not
properly belong to the province, in that vaccination in that State is conducted
by a purely local agency unconnected with the department, which, however,
exercises its supervision so far as its more legitimate duties will permit.
Agency.
The agency was strengthened by the addition of 27 vaccinators, of whom
17 were furnished from municipal or local sources, and the expense of the
remainder was met by Government.
Sufficiency of vac-
cination to the wants
of the province.
The total number vaccinated was 492,687, or 55,257 more than in 1872-73.
Excluding Bundlecund, the Superintendent-General calculates the percentage
successfully vaccinated, assuming a birth-rate of 30 per 1,000 in a population
of 30,781,204, on the birth addition of 923,433, to be 38.68, or an increase of
2.58 per cent. over the previous year. The Government resolution, however,
points out that this birth-rate " is certainly too low;" and that . the last half
yearly infanticide returns, which extend over a considerable population, and are
believed to be very fairly correct, give an annual birth-rate of 38.4 per
thousand, and all the returns and information before Government point to a
birth-rate more like 40 than 30 per thousand." In future reports an assumed
birth-rate of 40 per 1,000 is enjoined. The provincial jail report shows that
3.8 per cent. of the jail population of the year had been vaccinated.
Ratio of success.
Work per vaccinator.
The ratio of success has fallen of slightly in primary cases, whilst in re-
vaccinations an improvement is manifested by a decrease of 7.10 in the percent-
age of success. The average monthly number of operations performed by
each vaccinator increased by 11.6 over last year. The Government vaccinators
performed the greatest amount of work per man (292 cases monthly), but the
highest figure of success is attributed to the municipal establishment.
Infant vaccination.
The percentage of vaccination of children under one year of age is ex-
ceedingly favourable in these provinces as compared with Bengal. During the
year under review no less than 22.7 per cent. of primary cases were under one
year, whereas in Bengal only 6 per cent. were under that age; but in the
case of the latter province it is not stated whether only primary cases are
included. The percentage of children vaccinated varied from 24 to 27 in all
the circles except Benares, which gave only 8.9 per cent. The small propor-
tion in Benares is attributed to the fact, that the feeling against inoculating
children who are under one year has survived; and the idea is applied to
vaccination.
Caste of the vaccina-
ted.
As to caste, the proportion per cent. of those primarily vaccinated was as
follows :—Christians 0.32, Mahommedans 15.82, high caste Hindus 25.55, and
low caste Hindus 58.27; the proportion of these classes in the general popula-
tion is, of Christians 0.07, Mahommedans 13.61, high caste Hindus 22.73, and
low caste Hindus 63.58. These figures would argue that vaccination is pretty
equally diffused among the various classes who compose the population, but
that it is received with greater favor by the more intelligent Hindus than by
their low caste brethren or the Mussulmans.
Small-pox.
Small-pox occasioned 97,093 deaths, or 3.15 per mille of population against
30,073, or 0.97 per 1,000, during the previous year. In the district of Boolund-
shuhur the mortality reached 7.4 per 1,000, and in Gorakpur and Etah the
mortality was nearly as heavy, whilst in Budaon, Basti, Shajehanpore and
Bareilly the average was 5.7 per 1,000. In no part of the province in the
past nine years have the ravages of small-pox been more severe than in Rohilcund.
The Kumaon district, which formerly was a hot-bed of small-pox, is now so
thoroughly protected that the disease cannot take a hold upon it.
Lymph supply.
The Kumaon and Gurhwal depôt continued to supply the province with
lymph of excellent quality. A supplementary depôt has been established in
the Tehree tract of country, and from this source the Agra and Meerut circle
is now supplied. This additional nursery has afforded great relief to the
main depôt.
Cost.
The cost of successful vaccination in these provinces during the year was
4 annas and 8 pie for each case; or including Bundlecund 4 annas and 5 pie,
against 4 annas and 6 pie for 1872-73. The Lieutenant-Governor calls atten-
tion to the great difference in the cost of vaccination in the North-Western
Provinces as compared with Bengal and the Punjab, and he has directed
enquiry as to the cause to be instituted.