2
number shown as available. The explanation given in the case of Khandwa and
Burhanpur is that much vaccination was performed among foreigners who flocked
into the district under pressure of famine. The same may have been the case
in Narsinghpur; and in Raipur there may have been some influx into the town
from rural tracts. The reports are silent on the subject.
5. It must be admitted that the measure of success claimed for operations
is in most districts probably higher than could be justified by a careful examina-
tion of the facts. The Civil Surgeon of Chhindwara, writing on this subject,
observes that the percentage of success as given by the Vaccinators ranges from
99 to 100 per cent. This he characterizes as a gross exaggeration, seeing that
skilful Vaccinators in England, working under conditions much more favour-
able, cannot get more than from 90 to 95 per cent. of successful cases. He attri-
butes the high figure of nominal success to the inclusion among successful cases
of those in which the result is shown as unknown, and states that a large number
of such cases are included. The matter is one which requires watchful control
over the staff by the Civil Surgeon. Owing to the demands of famine work on
their time Civil Surgeons have had less opportunity than usual for checking the
statistics, but it is only in the case of the Chanda District that any marked discre-
pancy appears between the results arrived at by Civil Surgeons and those obtained
by Native Superintendents. The Civil Surgeon of Seoni, who saw over three and
a half thousand cases, states that he was much struck with the very small number
of failures which came under his observation: he did not find a single case
entered as successful which had not been so.
6. The mortality from small-pox during the year amounted to 3,196. There
is practically no correspondence apparent from the statistics between the propor-
tion of persons unprotected and the prevalence of the disease or number of fatal
cases. The figures as to protection must be accepted with caution. In Nimar
District 85.11 of the population is shown as protected, but it is explained in the
report that this is the result of the vaccination of foreigners who came into the
district for famine relief. The general rise in the figures of protection may be
attributed to the gradual replacement of adults who had received no vaccination
by infants who under present conditions are vaccinated, and the high birth-rate
of 1898 and 1899 gave a stimulus to such substitution.
7. The use of glycerinated lymph has been attended with results more
satisfactory than in the previous year. It is reported that its use is better under-
stood and that the staff has more confidence in it. But the subject is one the
detailed examination of which may be deferred till the time of the triennial report.
8. The conduct and working of the staff forms the subject of general
favourable comment. Vaccinators have plenty of work to do, not a small part of
which lies outside the nominal range of their duties. When there is an outbreak
of cholera in the district it follows almost as a matter of course that a Vaccinator
is sent to the spot to supervise measures of sanitary precaution and to distribute
medicine. During the past year the services of the staff have been utilized on
plague and famine duty also. The Officiating Chief Commissioner is glad to
have the opportunity of placing on record his acknowledgment of the meritorious
services of the staff and of its careful supervision by the Administrative Medical
Officer and Civil Surgeons.
ORDER.—Ordered, that a copy of this Resolution be submitted to the
Government of India in the Home Department, and that a copy be forwarded to
the Sanitary Commissioner, Central Provinces, for information and guidance; also
that it be published in the Supplement to the Central Provinces Gazette.
[True Extract.]
H.M.LAURIE,
Second Secretary to the Chief Commissioner,
Central Provinces.
Secretariat Press, Nagpur:—T. P. R., 27-8-1900-200.