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great, it is impossible after reading Dr. Lidderdale's report to avoid the conclusion
that there is a want of system in the operations at present, and that the results are
desultory. There were 111,709 persons vaccinated, or 32,937 more than last
year, and the cost was only 2 annas 10 pie per case, though the ratio of success
fell over 7 per cent. The only district in which the work appears to have been
systematic and highly successful was Bograh, where the native superintendent,
Tujummul Hossein, did really well. The energies of the small bodies of
vaccinators elsewhere seem to have been taken up with flying visits to places
where small-pox had broken out. The Inspector-General also points out that
Dr. Lidderdale, in attempting to visit all the parties scattered over the vast area of
his circle, has to adopt a much less thorough mode of inspection and check than
that in force in the metropolitan circles. Dr. Brown recommends that in
future the existing agency in each district should be concentrated in the
sudder thannah and protect that thoroughly first, extending their operations
as means and men are available; while a small flying agency to deal with out-
breaks of small-pox elsewhere is placed at the superintendent's disposal. The
Commissioner is said to approve of this plan, and the Lieutenant-Governor will
be glad to have it laid before him in detail, accompanied by any suggestions
which would facilitate the training and posting of inoculators as licensed
vaccinators in the protected areas. At present the vaccinations are considerably
less than half the estimated number of births per annum. Dr. Lidderdale will
no doubt pay attention to the Inspector-General's hints as to his mode of
inspection.
14. PARAS. 29-33.—Ranchi Circle.—In this circle 51,913 persons were
vaccinated, of a population numbering 4,856,003, and whose annual births may
be taken at 145,000. The vaccinations were 12,337 over last year. The percentage
of success was 92.85 as against 83.41, and the cost of each case 4 annas 7 pie
against 7 annas 2/3 pie. This is in every way an improvement. It is also matter
of satisfaction to know that the inoculators are working well; 16,236 vaccine
operations having been performed by them during the year. It is of the
highest importance to devolop this agency, as inoculation has been prohibited
(perhaps somewhat prematurely) in this circle. The Lieutenant-Governor
will await the Inspector-General's separate communication in regard to this.
But the plan of localising the inoculators for the purpose of maintaining the
protection given by the regular establishment, seems in every way the best.
The Commissioner believes that small-pox has been less frequent since inocula-
tion was prohibited. It is, however, impossible to leave the people unprotected,
and Dr. Wood must do all he can to push on his operations.
15. PARAS 33-35.—Sonthal Pergunnahs.—The number of vaccinations
was 8,352 (among a population of 1,018,000) against 6,454 last year, and
the percentage of success 90.88 against 87.84, and the cost per case 5 annas
2 pie, being slightly (10¼ pie) less than last year. The success of Dr. Chundra
in getting the inoculators to take up vaccination is very considerable, but
there is still a want of system in the mode of working, which the Inspector-
General should correct.
16. PARAS. 36-39.—Dispensary Vaccination, i.e., work by establishments
not attached to the vaccine circles, gave 91,256 operations against 80,364 in the
year preceding. The amount of work done in this way depends almost entirely
upon the interest taken in it by the civil surgeon, and, with a few exceptions,
this would appear to be generally very slight. The medical officers of thirteen
districts only are named by the Inspector-General as having paid some atten-
tion to the subject. Elsewhere little was done.
The Lieutenant-Governor will again call the special attention of district
officers to the importance of vaccination, and will request them to insist on the
civil surgeon taking an active part in promoting its advancement. Every chari-
table dispensary should have at least one vaccinator on its establishment. Every
municipality and township should maintain a vaccine staff. The civil surgeons
must train and inspect these men; and if the existing inoculators can be
induced to accept these appointments, much good will probably result. Com-
missioners will be directed to see what can be done at once to give effect to
this, that the coming cold season may not be entirely wasted.