BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.
21
52. Small-pox was prevalent more or less in every district of the Presidency
during the year. The highest number of deaths was recorded in Sind. With re-
gard to Bombay City, Dr. Kantak remarks that " in July 1889 a representation was
made soliciting the attention of Government to the general unprotected condition of
Native Christians coming from Goa and the class of Hindus who constitute the
majority of mill-hands in this city and who come from Ratnágiri and down the coast
and certain suggestions were submitted. Government were pleased to address the
Mill-owners' Association on the subject, and I was able to ascertain the general
condition of the mill-hands. The inspection revealed, so far as it went, a practical
or complete susceptibility to small-pox in the proportion of 16.54 per cent; in
23 of the mills no inspection took place on account of the perverse attitude of the
operatives and the inability or refusal of the managers to assist; with the excep-
tion of about 162 females, all the female hands and young operatives refused to be
inspected; and there is reason to believe that if the inspection had included them,
the proportion of unprotected persons would have been far higher. I subsequent-
ly submitted all this in the form of a report. No orders have been issued thereon
up to date, but it is hoped that some definite measures are in contemplation with
respect to giving effect to my suggestions, for, doubtless, this condition of the
above-mentioned classes is a standing menace to the general security of the
community against small-pox. Nothing short of legislation can meet the case, and
the present is the most appropriate time for it, for while the Factory Bill is under
enactment, the opportunity can be taken of adding a section making it obligatory
on the mill managers to insist on their employés showing proofs of having been
efficiently protected agaist small-pox. Taking the figures of deaths from this
cause for the last 40 years into consideration, it will be observed that although
the position of the city as the largest centre of commerce in the East naturally
renders it peculiarly liable to the importation of small-pox and other infectious
diseases, the ravages of that disease have gradually become less severe. There
is however the lurking fear that so long as the general unprotected condition
of the Goanese and the mill operatives continues as at present, there is risk in
every epidemic."
Progress in the Western
Registration District.
53. The Western Registration District extends over an area of 26,322
square miles, comprising the Collectorates of Khándesh,
Násik, Thána and Kolába and the Native States of the
Khándesh Agency (Mewás), Jawhár and Janjira. It
has a population of 3,455,093 persons. It is administered by a Deputy Sanitary
Commissioner who has, working under him, 6 Inspectors of Sanitation and Vac-
cination, 2 clerks, 8 municipal, 1 cantonment, 60 local fund, 4 candidate and 4 Na-
tive State vaccinators and 79 peons. 2 additional inspectors (1 for Khándesh,
and 1 for Thána and Kolába), 6 local fund vaccinators (2 for Násik and 4
for Thána Collectorates), and 2 candidates for Násik Collectorate, are required.
Vaccination returns are received from 3 dispensaries only. Each vaccinator
on an average worked amongst a population of 47,330 persons and in an area
of 360.57 square miles. They primarily vaccinated 105,073 and re-vaccinated
2,333 persons ; last year the respective numbers were 106,717 and 3,899. There
were 100,474 or 95.62 per cent. successful cases under primary vaccination and
1,172 or 50.24 per cent. under re-vaccination. These together give the total rate
of protection as 29.09 per mille of population, whilst last year it was 29.85.
The total cost was Rs. 41,352-9-0 and the average cost per each successful
case was annas 6 and pies 6, or anna 1 and pies 4 more than last year. Each
vaccinator averaged 1,471 persons. The medical officers of 3 dispensaries
returned 153 persons primarily vaccinated and 31 re-vaccinated. There were
1,046 deaths from small-pox.
Khándesh.
54. In the Khándesh Collectorate there are 26 vaccinators ; an additional
inspector is wanted as this district is a very large one.
Each vaccinator has on an average an area of 382.4
square miles and a population of 47,586 persons.
The primary vaccinations
amounted to 40,613, which in 38,363 instances or 94.46 per cent. were success-
ful. 198 persons were re-vaccinated and in 92 = 46.46 per cent. cases successfully.
The rate of protection per mille of population was 31.08 against 31.35 in 1888-89.
The total cost of vaccination was Rs. 8,087-10-3, which is equal to annas 3
and pies 3 for each successful case, or a pie more than the preceding year. The
average number of operations per each vaccinator was 1,570. The medical
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