REPORT.
v
Local vaccination
the final aim.
Dr. Powell's report, and in paragraph 16 the amount of work accomplished by
11 men thus employed is specified. The outturn is good and ratio of success
large. Fair progress has thus been made in what must be considered as the final
aim of vaccine effort, viz. localized and locally supported vaccination. This
object can only be very partially realized as the vaccine establishment is at pre-
sent organized and worked; but when the people have become thoroughly fami-
liarized with the proceeding, and have come to look upon it as an institution
and a necessity, it is hoped that localized vaccination may gradually become an
accomplished fact.
Result of season
bad.
16. The results for the past season have been peculiarly unfortunate; the
area of country overtaken has been much smaller and the number of vaccin-
ations performed less. The decrease as compared with 1870-71 has amounted
to 48,603 persons and 48,645 successful vaccinations. The percentage of suc-
cess stands, however, nearly as high as in 1870-71, and was verified by Dr. Powell
to within .43 per cent. The work done by each vaccinator during the season
fell from 2,123 to 1,452 vaccinations per man, and the cost of each successful
case rose from annas 4-¼ to annas 6-1.
Causes of non-suc-
cess.
17. Dr. Powell details in the 9 th paragraph of his report the causes of his
diminished success. They were briefly : difficulties inherent in the occupation
of a new field ; fever, disabling the vaccinators and disinclining the people to
be vaccinated; prejudice and passive opposition ; heavy floods; a late Doorgah
Poojah, and a less efficient establishment. These causes I consider valid and
sufficient, and I cannot attribute the slightest blame to Dr. Powell and his assist-
ants on account of the comparatively meagre work of the season; on the con-
trary, they appear to have contended bravely and perseveringly against difficul-
ties which they were powerless to overcome.
Employment
of
vaccinators in
dispensaries.
Results.
System modified.
Might be discon-
tinued.
18. There is one difficulty, however, which Dr. Powell describes in the
2nd paragraph of his report, namely, the employment of vaccinators in dispen-
saries during the recess, which should not again disturb his proceedings. This
mode of disposing of vaccinators during the non-working season, which has
been practised in the Punjab and other parts of the presidency for years, was
recommended by Dr. Murray and sanctioned in Bengal Government letter
No. 838, dated 22nd June 1869. It has been adopted in the other circles of the
province without difficulty, though the Ranchi vaccinators made a show of
opposition at first. It soon became apparent that the vaccinators of the metro-
politan circle were to give trouble. They objected to being employed as
dressers on the score of caste, and many of them feigned sickness rather than
obey the order. On my representation the order was modified (Bengal Govern-
ment letter No. 2129, dated. 8th July 1871), and permission was given to allow
half of the men to proceed on leave and exempt the remainder from working as
dressers. The result mentioned by Dr. Powell of several of the men setting
up as medical practitioners on the strength of the smattering of knowledge
obtained in dispensaries, is one to be discouraged and avoided as much as pos-
sible. This season the system has been modified and larger numbers placed at
dispensaries in and close to Calcutta, while one-half of them will obtain leave
alternately. As the services of these men are of little or no value quoad the
dispensaries, I do not consider it necessary that the order should be enforced,
and would second Dr. Powell's proposal; but when not actually employed, I
think the vaccinators should, as in other circles, receive an unemployed pay of
two-thirds of their employed pay, or Rs. 7 and 8 and 10 for men drawing Rs. 10,
12, and 15 a month.
Inspection.
19. Dr. Powell's inspection was conducted on the same thorough system
as in former seasons, and the results are highly satisfactory. The Deputy Sup-
erintendents saw each about 80 per cent. of the vaccinations performed in their
respective circles. This is a good proportion.
Small-pox.
20. The particulars recorded regarding the prevalence of small-pox
would be more valuable if the locality of the outbreaks were given. In about
b