2
It is difficult to understand the mentality of people who would appear to
appreciate the protective value of vaccination when an epidemic of small-pox
occurs, but are reluctant to have their children protected when the disease is
not so prevalent. This should surely be an argument in favour of compulsory
vaccination.
Of the total number of operations performed 1,287,943 were done by the
staff of the vaccination department as compared with 1,332,312 done last year.
1,086,754 operations were primary and 201,189 were re-vaccinations against
1,130,934 primary operations and 201,378 re-vaccinations done last year.
There was a decrease of 44,180 in the number of primary operations and
189 in the number of re-vaccinations during the year. Of the total operations
performed (1,287,943), 1,183,071 equal to 93.41 per cent. were successful as
compared with 1,239,476 equal to 93.03 last year.
The number of operations performed in municipalities decreased by
15,991 as compared with last year's returns. The total number of operation
performed was 56,596 and the number of successful operations was 42,269 of
which 34,103 were primary and 8,166 were re-vaccinations, as compared
with 34,780 and 15,982 respectively, last year. The ratios of success in
municipalities were 96.66 per cent. for primary operations and 38.31 per cent.
for re-vaccinations as compared with 96.41 per cent. and 43.77 per cent.
respectively, last year.
The number of operations performed in rural areas was 1,231,347 as
compared with 1,259,725 last year and the ratios of successes were 99.36 per
cent. for primary operations and 53.40 for re-vaccinations.
Patna Division.
3. Vaccination in districts.—All the three districts of the Patna Division,
reported a decrease in the number of
operations performed, Patna (26,541)
Gaya (13,350) and Shahabad (18,608).
Tirhut Division.
The districts of Muzaffarpur, Saran and Darbhanga recorded increases of
4,724, 9,106 and 14,469 respectively
whereas Champaran recorded a decrease
of 10,884.
Bhagalpur Division.
All the districts of the Bhagalpur Division recorded increases. The
Purnea district recorded the highest
increase in this division, viz., 5,809.
Orissa Division.
With the exception of Cuttack, all the other districts of Orissa recorded
decreases in the number of operations
the greatest decrease being in Balasore
(16,185). The district of Cuttack recorded an increase of 6,466.
Chota Nagpur Division.
The districts of Palamau, Hazaribagh and Singhbhum recorded increases
of 1,594, 4,709 and 86, respectively,
whereas Ranchi and Manbhum recorded
decreases of 1,206 and 6,099, respectively.
4. Vaccination in towns and compulsory areas.—Statement VII shows
that during the year, 16,919 children under one year of age, out of an
available number of 29,545 or 57.26 per cent. were successfully vaccinated.
The towns of Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Cuttack and Kendrapara show the
smallest proportion of work done, and the towns of Barh and Tikari also made
unsatisfactory returns.
5. Work done in the Native States under the supervision of the Political
Agent and Commissioner.—Vaccination work in the Orissa Feudatory States
has steadily developed during recent years under the direction and encourage-
ment of the Political Agent and Commissioner.
Both vaccination and to a large extent re-vaccination are practically
compulsory in the majority of these States.