8
VACCINATION REPORT.
7. The following table shows the cost of various establishments and the
average cost of each successful case during the three years under review :—
Establishment.
Government establishment.
Local Fund
do.
Municipal
do.
Zamindari
do.
Cantonment
do.
Total ...
Total expenditure.
1899-1900.
RS.
11,468
1,90,604
31,066
1,527
2,282
* 2,36,949
A.
1
8
12
9
11
12
P.
5
8
10
8
8
3
1900-1901.
RS.
11,745
1,97,407
32,058
1,721
2,302
* 2,45,235
A.
15
7
5
3
14
14
P.
5
4
2
3
11
1
1901-1902.
RS.
11,843
1,98,820
32,806
1,709
2,326
* 2,47,506
A.
0
11
15
2
14
12
P.
4
8
9
4
9
10
Average cost of each
successful case.
1899-1900.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
0
A.
6
3
4
3
6
3
P.
2
7
6
7
10
9
1900-1901.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
0
A.
6
3
4
4
6
3
P.
5
5
5
2
0
7
1901-1902.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
0
A.
6
3
4
3
5
3
P.
1
3
1
5
8
6
* Exclusive of the pay and allowance of the Inspector of Vaccination and Deputy Sanitary Commissioner.
In the vaccination circles the lowest cost per successful case is shown by
Vizagapatam (As. 1-10) and the highest, excluding the Nilgiris (As. 10-8), by
Rajahmundry Government vaccinators (As. 9-10). In municipalities Calicut has
paid As. 1-7 per successful vaccination and Cuddapah As. 10-7.
Though the total expenditure on vaccination has increased the larger number
of successful operations has reduced the average cost of each case.
8. During the past three years the average annual number of successful opera-
tions in municipalities was 121,246, with an increase of 7,484 when compared
with the previous triennial period. This is largely due to the diminution of plague
scare, and as this is now passing away the last year shows a considerable increase.
The largest decreases last year in the total number of operations are shown
by the following:—Salem (355), Gudiyáttam (169), Trichinopoly (163), Masuli¬
patam (116), and large increases are shown by Madras (5,694), Calicut (4,586),
Coimbatore (924), Mangalore (534), Cochin (525) and Dindigul (425).
A considerable amount of trouble is given to this office by the carelessness
with which the monthly return under G.O., No. 1502 M., dated 19th October 1894,
is made out and the number of references that are entailed thereby. This is chiefly
because Chairmen are in the habit of relieving themselves of all responsibility by
delegating its preparation to the Municipal Vaccinators, and seldom trouble to
check its accuracy in any way as it passes through their offices. Correspondence
on this subject with a Chairman not unfrequently resolves itself into an exchange
of opinions between this office and the local vaccinator, the Chairman intervening
merely as a forwarding agency. In a few cases the returns are checked by the
local medical officer or District Sanitary officer. This practice is greatly to be
commended as it is far easier for errors and discrepancies to be corrected and
accounted for on the spot, than by letter from this office.
Much variation is found in the proportion of arrears to current work in the
different municipalities. Local conditions may have some influence, but I am
inclined to think that it is good work on the part of the vaccinators, combined with
strict local supervision, which prevent the accumulation of arrears to a greater
extent than the obstinacy and apathy of the populace, their constant movements
in and out of town and the prevalence of disease, favour postponements. Ellore
and Madura are particularly good in this respect, their arrears being often only
one-fourth of their current cases, while Nellore, Rajahmundry and Tirupati are
particularly bad, their arrears being sometimes one and-a-half to three times more
numerous than their current cases. If a large town like Madura can prevent the
accumulation of arrears, it is only fair to argue that all other towns in the
Presidency can do so too, but intelligent local supervision is a necessity. It does
not always follow however that towns which have a low proportion of arrears also
show good vaccination results. In Ellore and Madura about 70 per cent. and 60
per cent., respectively, of the number of births registered get vaccinated ; while in
Tanjore and Srírangam where the proportion of arrears is about half only about
20 per cent. and 30 per cent., respectively, get vaccinated. Sometimes it is cases
pending before the Magistrate, or inadequate fines, which lead to arrears, but more
often it is postponement on medical certificate, i.e., the vaccinator's, for prolonged
periods running into years. Berhampur, Cocanada, Nellore, Tirupati, Cuddalore and