( 2 )
of vaccinators working in Mufassal Municipalities and Dispensaries was less by
sixteen, but the number of licensed vaccinators increased by forty-four. In-
spection work was seriously affected by the fact that, from October to March, the
three Deputy Sanitary Commissioners were employed on plague duty, while,
for forty one days in the year, there was no Deputy Sanitary Commissioner of
the Metropolitan Circle.
3. Number of operations and average per operator.—In spite of famine and
scarcity, the total number of vaccinations performed rose from 2,277,081 to
2,293,655. At the same time, owing to an increase in the staff of vaccinators,
the average number of operations performed by each fell from 624 to 615.
The increase in the number of operations is distributed over 26 out of 49
districts, including the Tributary States of Orissa and the Political States of
Chota Nagpur. The increase was highest in the following districts: —
Backergunge ... ... ... ...
Cuttack ... ... ... ...
Chittagong
...
...
...
...
Shahabad
...
...
...
...
Bankura ... ... ... ...
15,640
15,472
10,694
10,642
10,129
These results reflect credit on the officers concerned, especially in the
backward districts of Cuttack and Chittagong, where the success attained in
pushing on vaccination was especially conspicuous. A larger number of opera-
tions than in the previous year was also performed in Calcutta and in Mufassal
Municipalities and Dispensaries. Twenty-three districts show a falling off, the
decline being most marked in the following: —
Saran
...
...
...
...
Faridpur
...
...
...
...
Tippera
...
...
...
...
Muzaffarpur ... ... ... ...
Darbhanga ... ... ... ...
Dacca
...
...
...
...
Mymensingh. ... ... ... ...
20,612
15,677
15,469
12,538
11,397
10,047
9,517
The decrease is attributed, in most cases, to the prevalence of famine, and
the consequent inability of the people to meet the cost of vaccination. In Dacca
and Faridpur, it is also explained that the figures for the preceding year were
abnormally high, owing to the acceptance, for the first time, of vaccination by
the Ferazi Muhammadans, and in Mymensingh, that the vigorous measures
taken to meet a severe outbreak of small-pox, raised the figures for 1895-96
much above the average. In Tippera and Darbhanga, and also in other
districts, the licensed vaccinators, it is said, found great difficulty in realizing
their fees, and thus could not be made to work satisfactorily.
4. Protection afforded to infants.—Calculating the birth-rate for the Pro-
vince, as in previous years, at 40 per mille, the total number of infants under one
year, available for vaccination, was 2,460,228, of whom 498,979, or 202.81 per
mille, were successfully vaccinated, against 416,307, or 169.19, in the previous
year. If the figures can be relied upon, this indicates a remarkable improve-
ment in the working of the Department. The districts of Darjeeling and
Malda, again, head the list with 876.89 and 819.82 successful operations, respect-
ively, out of every thousand of the available infant population. Next in order
come Lohardaga and Palamau, while Cuttack and Gaya stand lowest with 43.57
and 37.49, respectively. These variations are as remarkable as in the preced-
ing year, and the Sanitary Commissioner considers that the proportion must be
either overstated or understated in many districts. He would prefer to estimate
the birth-rate at 51.8, the rate calculated by Mr. Hardy on the last Census, which
reduces the proportion of infants, protected from 202.81 to 149.79, and the figures
for the best protected district, Darjeeling, from 876.89 to 638.82.
5. Primary Operations.—The ratio per cent. of successful cases for the
entire Province is returned at 98.50, against 98.39 per cent. in 1895-96. As
in previous years, this high percentage is attributed to vaccinators, either
excluding unsuccessful cases altogether from their Returns, or entering cases,
which failed or partially failed, as successful. The Civil Surgeon of Purnea
found that some vaccinators did not enter in their diaries the names of the
children vaccinated, until the' success of the operation was assured, and the