VACCINATION REPORT.
3
differing in every detail, excepting those cases specially vaccinated for the inspect¬
tion of the District Medical and Sanitary Officer on his tour.
(i) In this year also the G.O., No. 1502-M., dated 19th October 1894, in
which compulsory vaccination in municipalities was systematised after suggestions
made by the Sanitary Commissioner, came into force; and its beneficial effects
have been very marked as will be seen under the head of municipalities below.
(j) By G.O., No. 609, Public, dated 18th August 1894, all persons candi-
dates for employment in the service of Government, in whatever branch, whether
superior or inferior, are required to produce certificates of revaccination after
having attained their tenth year.
(k) The Director of Public Instruction having removed the clause from the
revised Grant-in-Aid Code requiring that children should be certified as being
vaccinated, the Sanitary Commissioner represented the undesirability of this, and
Government were thereupon pleased to order the restoration of this provision.
5. The table given below shows the total vaccination work done by all
agencies throughout the Madras Presidency:—
—
Primary vaccinations ... ...
Re-vaccinations ... ... ...
Total ...
1893-94.
1,105,408
73,424
1,178,832
1894-95.
1,116,820
82,102
1,198,922
1895-96.
1,120,625
77,546
1,198,171
From this it will be seen that there has been a decrease of 751 cases as com-
pared with last year ; this however is accounted for by the large decrease (8,347)
under dispensaries, and vaccinations by medical subordinates. This is only what
was to be looked for under the operation of G.O., No. 1066-L., dated 9th May
1892, whereby it was made optional for medical officers in charge of hospitals and
dispensaries to perform vaccination. Under all other headings however there is
a satisfactory increase. Primary vaccination shows an increase of 3,805, while
re-vaccination has decreased by 4,556.
6. The districts showing the largest increase are the following :—Coimbatore
9,034, Kurnool 8,314, Chingleput 7,925, Madura 6,954, Ganjám 6,905; the two
first named showed an increase last year also, while the three latter are specially
noteworthy, as they were credited with a decrease in the previous report.
In ten districts a decrease is shown, viz., Vizagapatam 12,207, *Tinnevelly
9,458, *Malabar 8,601, South Arcot 6,707, Kistna 5,985, Nellore 2,253, Cuddapah
991, Nilgiris 673, *South Canara 564, Gódávari 14.
Districts marked with an asterisk showed a decrease last year also, while
South Canara has steadily decreased for the three years under review. The expla-
nations offered by the various Deputies concerned for this failure are as follows :—
Vizagapatam. —Failure of lymph supply and carelessness of the vaccinators in
charge of the lymph depôts. These men are obliged, in addition to this duty, to
turn out a certain number of cases monthly. In order to effect this they reserve
to themselves an extra supply of lymph, and when absent in villages in search of
cases, the depôts are neglected and the other vaccinators suffer. This has been
brought to notice by the Deputy Inspector and the District Medical and Sanitary
Officer and recommendations made to relieve vaccinators in charge of depôts from
extra work.
Tinnevelly.—Quarrelling of the batch vaccinators among themselves (a very
fruitful source of trouble), absence of certain vaccinators for long periods, reduc-
tion of the minimum number required from the batches ; the discontinuance of the
practice formerly in vogue, of vaccinating travellers and others at fairs and festi-
vals ; emigration owing to scarcity from lack of rain.
Malabar.—Changes in the vaccination staff, all having been transferred by a
'general post' order of the President, District Board, and many not joining their