ii
REPORT.
return for 1868-69, or 37.11 per cent. This may be accounted for by the separation of the
Metropolitan circles from the presidency vaccine establishment in October 1868. The oper-
ations performed near Calcutta previous to that month were then included in the return of
that establishment; not so for the year under report. There has been a marked decrease,
however, in the number of persons vaccinated in the Chowringhee Depôt, Park Street Dispen-
sary, and Medical College Hospital, which is to be regretted. When a dispensary has been
long established, and the benefits of vaccination known and appreciated, there should be no
difficulty in the results of the operations being ascertained.
5. The high rate of success is calculated " on the cases which had not been previously
protected, or in which the result had not been ascertained ; and excluding the work done in
the emigration depôts." As this process of elimination is not generally employed in ordinary
vaccine returns, the present ratios cannot be compared with them.
6. I am no advocate for continuing vaccination during the hot and rainy seasons; for
while a few cases may, through extraordinary precautions, escape the ulcerations and eruptions
which are so frequently the result of the operations in those seasons, the cases in which they
happen destroy confidence in vaccination.
7. There was the usual occurrence of small-pox in the cold season in the city.
Dr. Charles traced it to importation in two instances, and in several to inoculation; whilst in
others there was no traceable cause. As this disease is equally dangerous and diffusible over
the community, whether originating in contagion or inoculation, the latter practice should
be carefully watched; for though a mild attack may by proper care be communicated
to an individual, the danger of its spreading to the community indicates the general
advantage of stopping the practice.
The proportion of deaths, five in eight cases, among subjects of inoculation is very high;
and Dr. Powell, in his present report on the metropolitan circles, states that 20 out of 33
outbreaks of small-pox originated from inoculated cases.
8. Metropolitan Circles.—Surgeon F. Powell M.B. received charge of these circles from
Dr. Charles on the 4th December. The progress has been very satisfactory. The extent of
country overtaken was 2,071 square miles and 2,175 villages, against 1,108 miles and 1,535
villages last year. This is highly creditable to Mr. Powell and his assistants.
9. The number of primary successful cases, 155,248, which is equal to 99.72 per cent.,
is very wonderful; but as only 122,852, or 78.91 per cent., were verified by the inspection
of the Deputy Superintendent, it is probable that the cases have been assumed to be success-
ful, if not proved to have been failures by subsequent inspection.
10. I am anxious that these returns should be strictly correct, as though they do not
materially affect the benefit directly conveyed to the people, they guide Government in
developing the system, and carelessness is no plea for inaccuracy.
11. The system of inspection indicated in paragraph 20 is likely to prove very useful.
12. I do not see the necessity for a special "stamping out" establishment, paragraph 27.
The regular vaccinators of the district might have their work arranged to include the
affected villages and work from them over the surrounding villages.
13. The case mentioned in paragraph 34 is interesting; but it shows the great care
that should be exercised in vaccinating during epidemics of small-pox.