MUNICIPAL
DEPARTMENT.
SANITATION.
CALCUTTA, THE 12th AUGUST 1895.
RESOLUTION—No. 3272S.
READ—
The Statistical Returns of Vaccination in Bengal for 1894-95 with brief notes by the
Sanitary Commissioner.
READ AGAIN—
The Returns for 1893-94 with the Government Resolution reviewing them.
The returns for 1894-95 were due to Government on the 15th June, and
were received on the 2nd July. No reason is assigned for the delay, which,
however, is much less than it was last year, when the returns were nearly two
months behind time. The changes among the Deputy Sanitary Commissioners
were less numerous than in 1893-94, and, except in the Metropolitan Circle,
where a transfer took effect towards the end of February, a single officer was
in charge of the operations of the department throughout the working season.
2. Strength of supervising and operating staff.—The following table com-
pares the strength of the supervising and working establishments during the last
two years:—
YEAR.
1
1893-94
...
...
1894-95
...
...
INSPECTING STAFF.
Superintendents.
2
50
51
Deputy Superin-
tendents.
3
1
1
Inspectors.
4
63
62
Sub-Inspectors.
5
137
143
Head Vaccinators.
6
14
14
Total inspecting
7
265
271
OPERATORS.
Vaccinators.
Govern-
ment or
paid.
8
458
479
Licensed.
9
1,830
1,985
Apprentices.
Govern-
ment or
paid.
10
13
7
Licensed.
11
985
1,095
Total
operators.
12
3,286
3,566
REMARKS.
13
The creation of the new district of Angul raised the number of Superin-
tendents from 50 to 51. A new Inspector was also appointed for Angul and
two for the Tributary States of Orissa, while at the same time the designation
of two officers employed in the Chota Nagpur States was changed from Inspec-
tor to Sub-Inspector, and a reduction of two took place among the Inspectors
employed by municipalities and dispensaries. In consequence of these changes,
the total number of Inspectors fell from 63 to 62. Six men were added to the
staff of Sub-Inspectors, and this number also represents the increase in the total
inspecting agency. Of the total increase of 21 paid vaccinators, 8 were em-
ployed in rural areas and 13 under municipalities and dispensaries. The staff
of licensed vaccinators was increased by 156 in rural areas and reduced by one
in towns. No reference is made in the notes to the orders given in the Reso-
lution on the returns of 1893-94 that only regular operators should be included
in the statistics of staff, but it has been ascertained from the Sanitary Commis-
sioner that these orders have in fact been carried out. On the question of
demanding a security deposit of Rs. 10 from licensed vaccinators, which was
referred to in the Resolution on the statistics of 1893-94, the Sanitary Commis-
sioner reports, after consulting the Civil Surgeons, that the system works well,
and does not, as has been alleged, deter men from coming forward to serve as
vaccinators. It gives the Superintendents a hold over the vaccinators and
protects Government from loss by their absconding with instruments entrust-
ed to them. As, moreover, Civil Surgeons may, at their discretion, forego the
deposit in individual cases, or reduce the amount demanded, the Lieutenant-
Governor thinks the system may remain in force.
3. Number of operations and average per vaccinator.—The total number of
vaccinations performed rose from 1,844,304 to 2,174,097 and the average
per operator from 560 to 608. The increase was highest in the following
districts:—
Mymensingh
...
Angul ...
Noakhali
...
Backergunge ...
Faridpur ...
31,232
31,082
23,323
19,117
18,327
Saran ...
Jessore ...
Balasore ...
Nadia ...
Orissa States
...
15,238
14,659
13,692
12,682
11,326
and these results do credit to the officers concerned. Praise is more
especially due to Dr. Banks, the Civil Surgeon of Puri, who has been singularly