VACCINATION REPORT.
3
South Arcot.—Several extra men were employed in this district'; yet on
account of the prevalence of cholera, absence of small-pox, failure in the supply of
calves, want of help from village officers, and transfer of vaccinators, the above
decrease took place.
Anantapur.—Owing to the prevalence of famine in this district, the Collector
allowed the revenue officials to relax their efforts to help the vaccinators, in spite
of the remonstrances of the District Medical and Sanitary officer; and it was only
when the Sanitary Commissioner addressed him pointing out the great mortality
that took place during the last famine from small-pox, that he again sent out
circulars on the subject. The staff of vaccinators was incomplete for a time, and
there was also failure of paste.
Tinnevelly.—Prevalence of cholera, absence of some vaccinators and the
bad working of the batch system. The District Medical and Sanitary officer has
now however taken steps to abolish this pernicious system, so better results may
be looked for in the future.
Madura.—Prevalence of cholera from November to March, heavy rains, and
the fact that several posts were vacant for some time.
Malabar.—Constant transfer of vaccinators, and according to one deputy
inspector, non-employment of caste vaccinators. As the decrease is very insignifi-
cant however, I fancy the true outturn of the district is now got at, the inflated
figures of former returns being no longer furnished.
Chingleput.—The Deputy Inspector of Saidapet died during the year and
the post was vacant for two months, during which time the returns fell off.
8. Last year Government were pleased to approve of the suggestion that heads
of villages should be made to maintain separate lists of children under ten who
were not yet vaccinated, but up to date no orders have apparently been issued on
the subject. Another means that would largely contribute to the more thorough
protection of the people would be the granting of power to district boards to
declare vaccination compulsory in unions, where local conditions were favourable.
In most districts there would appear to be no opposition to this step being
now taken.
9. The following table shows the number of successful operations performed
by all agencies with the ratio of success attained. The continued slight fall in the
percentage of success is not, I think, to be deplored, as it probably points to greater
accuracy in the returns. The remarkable similarity in the success rates in the
work of medical subordinates and in cantonments and dispensaries—where no
pressure is brought to bear on the operators to produce high rates—points to 88
per cent. being probably as high a rate of success as we can expect under the
climatic and other unfavourable conditions experienced in this country :—
Establishment.
Local Fund vaccinators ...
Government
do. ...
Zamindary
do. ...
Municipal
do. ...
Cantonment
do. ...
Dispensaries... ... ...
Medical subordinates... ...
Total ...
Number of successful vaccinations.
1895-96.
Primary
vaccination.
879,660
17,694
5,055
98,716
3,827
15,101
2,214
1,022,267
Re-vaccina-
tion.
35,959
181
2
12,949
775
1,085
7,395
58,346
1896-97.
Primary
vaccination.
927,372
17,311
6,405
96,389
3,628
10,267
1,088
1,062,460
Re-vaccina-
tion.
32.216
249
21
13,535
762
909
8,051
55,743
Ratio per cent.
of successful cases.
1895-96.
Primary
vaccination.
92.9
89.6
82.8
96.2
96.5
89.0
86.4
93.0
Re-vaccina-
tion.
83.3
85.8
100.0
85.5
61.5
71.0
65.4
80.3
1896-97.
Primary
vaccination.
92.4
86.4
87.1
96.1
88.8
88.0
87.8
92.5
Re-vaccina-
tion.
81.3
71.3
100.0
84.7
53.8
74.8
73.1
80.1
Ratio per
cent. of total
successful
cases.
1895-96.
92.5
89.6
82.8
94.8
88.0
87.5
69.3
92.2
1896-97.
92.0
86.1
87.2
94.6
79.8
86.7
74.6
91.8
Note.—The statistics given in this statement include those exhibited in statements I and III appended to this
report.
10. The table below shows the number of cases vaccinated at the different age
periods. It is satisfactory to note a slow but steady increase in the number of
infants vaccinated :—