58
VACCINATION IN THE PROVINCE OF BENGAL.
[Part II
The Surgeon-General, in his report to the Bengal Government, thus sum-
marises the statistics of these circles :—
The total number of operations was 306,662, and of primary successful cases 305,968.
To this must be added 4,855 successful vaccinations out of 4,859 performed by municipal vac-
cinators, as described in paragraph 20 of Dr. Gupta's report, and 5,540 successful vaccinations
(out of 5,813) performed in Burdwan, Hooghly, Howrah, and Serampore by the local muni-
cipal vaccinators. Excluding 9,468 done in the Beerbhoom and Bankoora districts, we will
then have a grand total of 316,855 successful vaccinations, which, among a population of
7,539,278, gives a percentage of 4.07. This must exceed the birth-rate taking 30 per 1,000
per annum. It is very satisfactory to observe that the amount of work accomplished last year
has more than fully sustained the hope I expressed in the previous report.
System of working
pursued.
The establishment underwent no change; at the commencement of the
season it was divided into gangs consisting of seven or eight vaccinators and
two apprentices under a head vaccinator; and three definite areas or circles
were arranged and placed under charge of a deputy superintendent. The
establishment of the first circle was chiefly employed in the north half of the
24-Pergunnahs, the second in Hooghly, and the third in Burdwan. In the two
last-named districts sickness interfered much with the work. In addition to
the difficulty thus occasioned, the illegal practice of inoculation had to be
encountered in parts of the 24-Pergunnahs, and it does not appear that the
law was very promptly enforced, though eventually it prevailed.
Work done by each
vaccinator.
Each vaccinator performed 2,690 operations, a number somewhat below
the average of the previous year, because the 24 apprentices were not then
taken into account. The average cost of each operation was one anna and ten
pie against the same for the previous year.
Municipal and
private vaccinators.
Twenty-one municipalities and four private individuals, all within the area
of the metropolitan circles, employed vaccinators and paid for their services.
Ex-inoculators.
On the staff of the establishment there were 18 inoculators. Dr. Gupta
gives instances of inoculators voluntarily applying for instruction in the art of
vaccination ; but it appears that the people refuse to continue their usual fees
to inoculators who relinquish their practices in favour of vaccination, so that
the encouragement to conform to the law is but slight indeed, if the idea is
universal.
Vaccine census.
A vaccine census, including 11,684 individuals, was made. It was thus
shown that the percentage of vaccination was greater among the juvenile
than among the adult population in the ratio of 73.09 to 12.20. The jail por-
tion of this census shows that 77.83 per cent. of the population were protected
by inoculation, and 12.20 by vaccination.
Darjeeling Circle.
Difficulties with
regard to
establishment.
Darjeeling Circle.—Government sanctioned an increased establishment
of 42 apprentices and 3 inspectors, but Dr. Lidderdale, the superintendent,
experienced great difficulty in obtaining suitable men to recruit as vaccinators.
He could not obtain any inspectors at the sanctioned rates of pay, and the
highest number of apprentices he had at any one time was only 27. The post
of one vaccinator, supported by the Promotho Nath Fund of Nattore, was
abolished during the year. In addition to the regular establisment, 4 vac-
cinators worked in Julpigoree, 11 in Purneah, a gang in Mynagore, and 6 belonged
to the Dinajpore Rajbaree; but these latter seem to have done no work what-
ever, whilst the superintendent complains that the manager of the estate
thwarted his efforts. Several ex-inoculators worked in Bogra and other districts.
Results accomplished
The total number of operations performed was 97,757 against 106,399 in
1872-73, showing a decrease of 8,642. Of the total number, 94,128 were suc-
cessful against 100,695 for the previous year. Each vaccinator performed
2,327 operations, or slightly less than in the former season. The percentage
of success shows an improvement—95.7 against 93.3; but each successful case
cost 3 annas, or two pie more than in 1872-73.
Inoculators.
Inoculators for the first time appeared in the district of Bogra and diffused
small-pox with considerable success. The number of vaccinations performed
in Bogra exceeded the birth-rate; it is therefore proposed to extend Act IV of
1865 to the district.
Low rate of success
in the hills.
The standard of vaccination in the Darjeeling Hills is stated to have
been always low "partly from the dress and habits of the people, and partly
from carelessness in the performance of the operation and in the selection of
lymph"