56
VACCINATION IN THE PROVINCE OF BENGAL.
[Part II.
Agency increased.
As compared with the previous season, the staff was increased by the
addition of 38 vaccinators, 42 apprentices, and 21 ex-inoculators. The in-
crease in the unpaid agency is due to the increased interest manifested by the
civil surgeons in the matter, whilst the addition to the regular establishment
was caused chiefly by the necessities of the Darjeeling and Eastern Bengal
circles.
Comparison with
previous years.
The number of operations performed during the last 10 years is exhibited
in the statement below, which shows a rapidly increasing progressive rate.
The returns of the vaccine circles are trustworthy, but those of the dispensary
establishment are not so reliable for lack of the means of supervision. The
work done by the former agency amounted to 573,170 cases, or 72.3 per cent.
of the whole. The percentage of success of primary vaccinations does not
show such a high rate as in the previous year, but the greater pains which
were taken to check and supervise the work of the dispensary and municipal
vaccinators was clearly the cause of this. In the season 1872-73 the percent-
age of successful cases in dispensary vaccination was 89.3, whereas in the year
under report it was 79.12.
STATEMENT No. XI.
YEARS.
1864-65 ... ... ...
1865-66 ... ... ...
1866-67 ... ... ...
1867-68 ... ... ...
1868-69 ... ... ...
Operations.
90,321
152,099
194,753
237,748
262,541
YEARS.
1869-70 ... ... ...
1870-71 ... ... ...
1871-72 ... ... ...
1872-73 ... ... ...
1873-74 ... ... ...
Operations.
340,050
348,309
375,281
687,406
791,634
Each vaccinator performed 2,336 operations against 1,868 for the preceding
year.
Cost of vaccination.
The budget grant for vaccination for the official year amounted to
Rs. 99,800, and the actual disbursements were Rs. 88,310, being an increase of
Rs. 6,104 over the expenditure of 1872-73. On account of the large number
of persons vaccinated, the cost of each successful case has fallen from 2 annas
and 5 pie to 2 annas only. Dispensary vaccinations were conducted at the rate
of 10 pie each successful case. In Calcutta the cost was 8 annas each.
The Ranchee circle maintains its rather high rate of 5 annas, while the other
circles are more consistent in their approach to the general average.
Calcutta and
Suburbs.
Reduction in estab-
lishment.
Calcutta and Suburbs.—The Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Dr.
T. E. Charles, has hitherto held this circle under his immediate direction and
superintendence. His report is in every way cheering. Since October 1872
there have been only two, instead of the authorized number of three superin-
tendents working. Dr. Charles finds that he can efficiently carry on the work
with this reduced establishment, and he has, therefore, recommended that the re-
duction be made permanent.
Statistics.
The total number of persons vaccinated was 38,796 against 31,483 in
1872-73, showing an increase of 7,313, and the last year showed an increase of
10;948 over the previous one. The majority of the increase was, however, due
to the greater number of coolies who presented themselves at the dep6ts for
emigration, the rule being that all emigrants, whether previously protected or
not, are to submit to vaccination: 41.7 per cent. of the total number were
primary vaccinations and 58.3 per cent. re-vaccinations. By far the greater
number of the emigrants have undergone protection prior to their arrival in
Calcutta; indeed, only 11.5 per cent. of the operations performed at the coolie
depôts were primary cases, and thus the ratio of primary cases is kept low.
The ratio of primary and secondary cases in the town (76.2 to 23.8) has remained
almost exactly as in the previous year, while among the suburban population
the percentage of primary cases has risen from 78.7 to 97.9. Of the primary
cases, 99.82, per cent. proved successful, and of the secondary 17.49. Each
vaccinator performed 1,847 operations against 779 in the previous year, and
the cost of each successful case fell from 10 annas and 1 pie to 8 annas.
Small-pox.
Small-pox has become such a comparatively rare occurrence in Calcutta
that a total mortality during the past year of 67 was considered unusual.