2
and outlying tracts. The Chief Commissioner indeed has grave doubts as to the
accuracy of the returns sent in. The report itself contains figures which are at
variance with those contained in the notes for the years 1905-06 and 1906-07
and for which no explanation is offered. In these two years the figures given
in the notes of the number of children available for vaccination were 354,318
and 357,782 respectively, while in paragraph 8 of the report the figures are
shown as 435,779 and 455,824. In both these years the notes showed that
the number of children vaccinated were in excess of the number available.
In forwarding the notes of the year 1905-06 to the Government of India the
Chief Commissioner stated that he was unable to accept the explanation given
for the excess in paragraph 8, and that it was evident that the returns must be
incorrect, and that the most probable cause of their inaccuracy would appear
to be that children of and over one year of age had been included in the returns
of children under one year. But if the figures in the report can be accepted as
correct it is evident that the number of children available for vaccination in the
years 1905-06 and 1906-07 were grossly under-estimated when the notes for those
years were written. Whatever may be the true explanation it is very clear that
there is abundant room for improvement in the methods under which vaccination
statistics are maintained and compiled, and the Chief Commissioner entirely
agrees with the conclusion arrived at in paragraph 22 of the report that more
extended and closer supervision is urgently called for. Inspections must be made
real and effective and not treated as a matter of routine, while accuracy in
maintaining and compiling statistics must be insisted upon. The subject is one
to which the Sanitary Commissioner should give early attention in consultation
with local bodies, through the Divisional and District authorities. The procedure
for calculating the number of infants available is rough and unsatisfactory,
and the Sanitary Commissioner should devise a better method of arriving at the
average number of infants under one year in existence during the vaccination
season.
4. The difference in the percentages of successful revaccinations in the
Central Provinces and in Berar is very marked. The average for the four
Central Provinces Divisions is about 85 per cent as against 38 per cent in the
Berar Division and the lowest district percentage in the Central Provinces (61.56
for Hoshangabad) is considerably in excess of the highest district percentage
in Berar (49.50 for Buldana). The subject was noticed when the notes for the
year 1906-07 were under consideration, and on a report being called for, Colonel
Weir, the Sanitary Commissioner, attributed these variations to three causes, viz.,
(1) the inferiority of the lymph used in Berar; (2) the superiority of primary
vaccination in Berar; and (3) difference in the standard of judging success by the
Central Provinces and Berar vaccinators. The second of these reasons cannot
logically be reconciled with the first, for an inferior lymph would affect primary
vaccination as adversely as it would subsequent vaccination. The difference
would appear due to the use of inferior lymph in Berar and to a lax standard
of estimating success in the Central Provinces. Measures have recently been
taken to improve the quality of the lymph in use in Berar and what is required
now is an accurate definition of what constitutes a successful revaccination and a
uniform method of estimating it.
5. The use of glycerinated lymph is steadily increasing. During the trien-
nium 3.19 per cent of the total number of operations were performed with fresh
calf lymph, 93.81 with glycerinated calf lymph, 1.40 with arm-to-arm human
lymph, and 1.53 with lanolinated calf lymph, as against 37.01, 53.14, 9.59 and 25,
respectively, in the last triennial period. In the year 1907-08 as many as 98.62 per
cent of operations were performed with glycerinated calf lymph, but the results
compared unfavourably with other kinds of lymph. This was due to the inex-
perience of vaccinators, especially in Berar, in preparing the lymph; but when
it is prepared under proper supervision at head-quarters, for which arrangements
are in progress, better results should be secured. It is satisfactory to see that
the use of human lymph is generally being discouraged.
6. The transfer of the staff of vaccinators to the control of the local bodies is
an experiment the success of which will depend largely on the interest taken by the
local bodies in their new duties. The necessity for improving the prospects of