( 2 )
largest decrease occurred in the Darjeeling and the Eastern Bengal Circles,
where it amounted to 72,791 and 53,343 operations respectively. Against
this general falling off in the Vaccination circles, it. is satisfactory to notice
an increase of 5,189 in the total number of operations performed by Municipal
vaccinators and at dispensaries in the mufassal. There appears to be no
reason why every medical officer in charge of a dispensary in the mufassal
should not perform vaccinations in the town in which his dispensary is situated,
provided this does not interfere with his proper work at the dispensary. The
Sanitary Commissioner is requested to consult with the Inspector-General of
Civil Hospitals with a view to carrying out this suggestion.
Explanation of decrease.
Year.
1889-90 ...
1890-91 ...
1891-92 ...
Number of
deaths
from small-
pox.
641
307
20
Number of
vaccine
operations
performed.
26,280
17,498
14,162
Year.
*l889-90 ...
1890-91 ...
1891-92 ...
Total number
of deaths.
10,845
14,061
20,417
Number
of vaccine
operations
performed.
1,703,288
1,746,061
1,547,982
4. As regards the various explanations given for this general falling off,
it is difficult to know what weight to attach to them
without precise local knowledge of the facts. In
Calcutta the decrease is attributed by Dr. Simpson
to the prevalence of small-pox during the previous
year, when many people resorted to vaccination.
The figures for Calcutta quoted in the margin
would appear primâ facie to support this explanation, but on the other hand it is
not borne out by the figures for the province at
large.. While the number of deaths* from small-
pox was greater in 1890-91 than in 1889-90, and in
1891 92 almost double the number in 1889-90, the
number of operations in 1891-92 was much less than
in either 1890-91 or 1889-90. In the Metropolitan, Darjeeling, and Eastern
Bengal Circles the decrease is ascribed among other causes to the prevalence of
malarious fever and to the unusual unhealthiness of the year, and also to the
inability of the people to pay the vaccinators' fees owing to poverty. There
is a rule that except in seasons of epidemic only healthy persons should be
vaccinated, but it is paying a great compliment to the discretion of the vacci-
nator to suppose that they would abstain from operating on children whose
parents present them for vaccination, on the ground that they are in a bad state
of health. Looking to the fact that in Eastern Bengal at least the season was
a prosperous one, the Lieutenant-Governor doubts very much whether the
alleged inability of the people to pay the vaccinator's fee of two annas is an
explanation which will bear scrutiny.
Average work of each operator.
5. Each paid vaccinator performed on an average 922 operations against
1,267 in the previous year, each licensed vaccinator
608 against 694, and each Municipal vaccinator
355 against 346. These results are unsatisfactory, and no valid reasons have been
given for the falling off. Statement IV of the Statistical Returns illustrates
how the work of vaccination has been gradually transferred between the years
1882-83 and 1891-92 from the hands of Government operators to licensed agency.
In 1882-83, when the comparative value of work performed by the licensed agency
was considered superior to that performed by Government agency, the average
number of operations performed per man was 1,035 by the licensed class and 1,026
by the Government vaccinators. The figures for 1891-92 show a great decrease
in the outturn of work done by each licensed vaccinator, the reasons for which
are not apparent. The table in paragraph 7 of the report showing vaccination
by sex is of little use unless some practical conclusion can be drawn from it.
The Lieutenant-Governor is disposed to doubt whether any such conclusion can
be drawn, and it would probably be sufficient, instead of preparing an elaborate
table, to state that the number of males vaccinated exceeded the number of
females, being 51.6 as against 48.4. Much the same may be said of the table
in paragraph 8 illustrating vaccination according to class or religion. Here
again totals for the province would be sufficient, and separate figures need not be
given for vaccination circles and municipalities.
Cost of vaccination.
6. This transfer of work to the licensed agency has not, however,.
resulted in any saving of cost to Government, as,.
whenever the licensed system has been introduced
into any circle, the savings have been utilised in strengthening the inspecting staff.
The total cost to Government in 1891-92 was Rs. 1,47,542, against Rs. 1,16,084
in 1882-83, the average cost of each reported successful vaccination being 1 anna
and 8 pies against 1 anna and 5¾ pies in 1882-83. The total expenditure on