( 3 )
1890-91 and 1891-92 hardly bears out the Sanitary Commissioner's remark
that a remarkable impetus has been given to vaccination in that district by
making it free. It is desirable, however, that the experiment should be
continued. Mr. Coxe, the Magistrate, and Dr. Banks, the Civil Medial Officer,
have displayed much interest in the working of the department.
8. Cost of vaccination.—The total cost of vaccination to the Government in
1893-94 was Rs. 1,80,200, against Rs. 1,65,601 in 1892-93, the average cost of
each reported successful vaccination being 1 anna and 7 pies, against 1 anna and
5 pies in 1892-93. The cost shown for 1892-93, however, did not include the
entire year. If the average cost of the last three years is taken, the cost of each
case during the year under report was not actually in excess of past years.
9. Death-rate from small-pox and proportion of population protected.—A
diagram is given in the report illustrating the death-rate from small-pox in each
district as compared with the proportion of population protected by vaccination
during the last seven years, 1887—94, in accordance with the orders of the
Government of India contained in their letter No. 42, dated the 8th February
1894. The Sanitary Commissioner should have commented on this diagram.
The following districts which return the highest death-rate from small-pox
show also a very low ratio of protected population:—
District.
Puri ... ...
Cuttack ... ...
Gaya ... ...
Manbhum ... ...
Bhagalpur ... ...
Palamau ... ...
Protected
per
10,000.
1,500
1,000
1,200
2,100
1,800
1,500
Death-
rate from
small-pox
per
10,000.
18.5
11.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
4.2
Darjeeling, with 4,900 protected out of every 10,000 of the population, had
a mortality of only .13 per 10,000 from small-pox.
10. Vaccination direct from village calves.—The plan of vaccinating. direct
from calves in the villages, suggested by Dr. Dyson, was introduced during the
year, but too late to admit of a full trial. The experiment should be continued
during the ensuing season with all the precautions needed to give it a fair
chance of success. This method of vaccination has been adopted with excellent
results in the Punjab, and is receiving a trial in some districts of the Central
Provinces. The Lieutenant-Governor agrees with the Sanitary Commissioner
that the working of the scheme should not be left entirely to the subordinate
staff A series of interesting experiments in vaccination from the kid was made
by Dr. Moir, and the results showed that children can be successfully vaccinated
with lymph so obtained, but success was not obtained in inoculation from kid to
kid. Dr. Moir has been requested to continue the experiments with the view of
ascertaining whether such inoculation is possible.
11. Animal Vaccine Depôts.—The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to learn that
the misunderstandings which prevented the full utilisation of these depôts during
the past year have been since settled, and that arrangements have been made
for the better working of the institutions in future, and for the regular supply
of lanoline lymph during the working season. The depôts serve a most useful
purpose in diminishing the need of arm-to arm vaccination, and their develop-
ment to the fullest extent is a matter of great importance.
12. Inspections.—The increased activity of Civil Surgeons in inspecting
the work of the vaccinators deserves commendation. One Civil Surgeon
inspected over 10,000 operations, six from 5,000 to 10,000, thirty-two from
1,000 to 5,000, and eight under 1,000. In 1892-93 five inspected from 5,000
to 10,000, twenty-four from 1,000 to 5,000, and sixteen under 1,000, while one
made no inspections. The improvement is perhaps greatest in Patna, but in
many districts the work received very inadequate attention, and much more
should be done in future. Chittagong, Cuttack, Nadia, Rangpur, the 24-Par-
ganas, Balasore, and some others show very poor inspections. The special
attention of the Civil Surgeons should be drawn to the matter. In Calcutta