( 3 )
is the practice in the Panjab, and that the vaccination returns should
show exactly in how many points each case of vaccination has been
successful. The Lieutenant-Governor accepts this recommendation, and
desires the Sanitary Commissioner to submit for the approval of Government a
draft of the instructions which he proposes to issue on the subject.
6. Secondary operations.—The average ratio per cent. of successful secondary
operations in rural areas for the entire Province for the triennial period was 60.07
against 52.81 in the preceding triennial period, and in municipalities 53.79
against 38.70. Here again the percentages of successful cases seem rather high,
and their accuracy is questionable. In connection with this subject;, the
Sanitary Commissioner refers to the almost complete suppression of small-pox
in Germany, which has been brought about by the introduction in 1874 of
compulsory vaccination for infants and of revaccination for all school children
in their twelfth year, and urges that all boys at school and all young men
entering Government service should be vaccinated or revaccinated, as the case
may be. The proposal should be submitted to Government through the Director
of Public Instruction.
7. Recess work.—The average number of operations performed during
the recess in connection with small-pox epidemic rose from 75,357 in 1890-93
to 110,541 in 1893-96. This increase is attributed to increased activity shown
in vaccinating whole communities on the slightest outbreak of. small-pox,
instead of, as before, only those residing in the immediate neighbourhood of
the persons attacked. It is also stated that many municipalities now carry on
vaccination all the year round.
8. Vaccination at the expense of District Boards.—The number of vaccinators
employed by District Boards and paid from District Funds rose from 37 in
1893-94 to 39 in 1894-95 and to 67 in 1895-96, and the total number of persons
vaccinated by them from 13,086 in 1893-94 to 27,061 in 1894-95 and to 59,060
in 1895-96. The contributions made by District Boards towards vaccination in
rural areas also increased from Rs. 654 in 1893-94 to Rs. 3,279 in 1895-96.
The largest contribution during the past year was made by the District
Board of Puri, viz. Rs. 1,148. Among the other District Boards, Tippera
contributed Rs. 500, Gaya Rs. 450, Chittagong Rs. 384, Dacca Rs. 317,
Backergunge Rs. 300, Bogra Rs. 91, and Bankura Rs. 88. Provisions have
been inserted in the Bill to amend the Local Self-Government Act, which
will legalise the action of these Boards and will enable other District Boards
to devote a portion of their funds to providing free vaccination in those parts
of their districts where, for special reasons, the system of licensed vaccination
is found to be unpopular.
9. Cost of vaccination.— The total cost of vaccination during the year
1895-96 was Rs. 2,09,480 as against Rs. 1,95,218 in 1894-95 and Rs. 1,80,199
in 1893-94. The average cost of each reported successful vaccination was the
same during the past two years, viz. 1 anna 6 pies, as against 1 anna 7 pies in
1893-94.
10. Death-rate from small-pox and proportion of population protected.—The
usual diagram illustrating the death-rate from small-pox in each district, as com-
pared with the proportion of population protected by vaccination, is given. It
shows that, as a general rule, small-pox is comparatively low in places where
vaccination is actively carried on, and vice versâ. The total number of deaths
from small-pox during 1895-96 was 13,080 as against 9,562 in 1894-95 and
12,499 in 1893-94, or .18 per thousand of population, as compared with .13
in 1894-95 and .17 in 1893-94. The following districts had the highest
mortality:—
Midnapore ... ... ... ...
Cuttack ... ... ... ...
Patna ... ... ... ...
Faridpur
...
...
...
...
Calcutta ... ... ... ...
1,734
1,505
1,160
1,106
1,010
Singhbhum and Jalpaiguri returned only two deaths, Rajshahi three,
Lohardaga four, and Malda and Darjeeling five each.
11. Methods of vaccination.—The Sanitary Commissioner as usual furnishes
a statement which purports to show the comparative efficacy of the three