REPORT ON VACCINATION IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY
FOR THE YEAR 1896-97.
From Surgeon-Major W. B. BANNERMAN, M.D., B.SC., Inspector of Vaccina-
tion and Deputy Sanitary Commissioner for Madras, to the Sanitary
Commissioner for Madras, dated 23rd June 1897, NO. 907-V.
I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on Vaccination in the Madras
Presidency for 1896-97. As the report for 1895-96 was the triennial full one,
this, in accordance with G.O.,No. 1455, Public Department, dated 12th July 1886,
has been made as short as possible.
2. The post of Inspector of Vaccination was, for the first 14 days of the
official year, held by Surgeon-Major C. Mallins, but for the rest of the year by
myself, on return from furlough.
3. During the year the following municipalities have been inspected in accord-
ance with orders of the Sanitary Commissioner, and written reports submitted to
Government, viz.:—Coonoor, Conjeeveram, Máyavaram, Mannárgudi, Palghat,
Calicut, Cochin, Chicacole, Parlákimedi, Berhampur, Ongole, Masulipatam and
Erode, and also in addition 24 villages and unions. The circles of the following
deputy inspectors have been thoroughly inspected, viz.:—Tanjore, Negapatam,
Chicacole, Chatrapur, Ongole and Guntúr. More would have been done in this
direction but for the fact that three of the best working months of the year, viz.,
January, February and March, were otherwise unavoidably occupied, by illness,
superintendence of the Mahamakham festival at Kumbakónam and deputation to
Bombay on special plague duty. In paragraph 3 of the Government Order reviewing
the last annual report on vaccination, it is noted that " Government regards these
special tours as essential for the improvement of vaccination," so I would again
point out that, with the present amount of sanitary inspection work devolving on
me, it is impossible to visit more than 6 or 7 circles in the year. As there are
now 53 deputy inspectors, exclusive of those employed in the town of Madras, it
will be apparent that a dishonest deputy inspector might flourish unchecked for
eight years or so before being detected. With the permission of Government, then,
I would beg leave to submit a separate scheme for the employment of two Assist-
ant Inspectors of the Assistant Surgeon class, whose duty it would be to inspect
the verification work of the deputies and so impose a wholesome restraint on the
dishonest practices which at present prevail to too large an extent in the depart-
ment. This small addition to the strength of the department would not cost much
and yet would result in an immediate improvement in its working as regards the
accuracy of the returns submitted, so that one could, in future, get an idea of
the actual extent to which the population is really protected, which is impossible
at present.
4. Another defect under which the department labours is the lack of power
to move deputy inspectors from one district to another without first obtaining the
sanction of the president of the district board concerned. Several times this year,
arrangements carefully thought out and believed to be for the best interests, not
only for the department, but of the local boards, have been upset owing to the refusal
of the president, district board, to allow the necessary moves. It is only natural, of
course, that presidents of district boards should object to have a good man moved,
but at the same time they can only take a local view of the matter, and have no
knowledge of the wider interests of the department which necessitate such moves,
nor of the difficulties imposed by their action on those responsible for its manage-
ment. I would, therefore, respectfully submit for the consideration of Government
the desirability of granting to the head of the Vaccination Department the power to
move deputy inspectors from one district to another as the necessities of the case
demand, and relying on his judgment to do the best possible, not only for the
department, but for the local boards concerned.