VACCINATION REPORT.
17
19. All the operations performed during the year were exclusively done with
animal lymph, humanized lymph having in no instance been called into requisi-
tion anywhere in the Presidency.
20. The deaths from small-pox amounted to 23,959, Ganjám alone producing
16,868. In this district the epidemic commenced about the spring of the year
1897 and became very virulent during the famine months, especially so in May.
Twelve temporary vaccinators were employed by the District Board for nine months
in the year on account of this outbreak, and, as can be seen from the returns, vacci-
nation was vigorously carried on. The vaccinators in the Hill tracts of Gódávari,
Vizagapatam and Ganjám showed an increase over last year's work, which was
marked in Ganjám, These vaccinators are not under the orders of this office—vide
G.O., No. 2398, Judicial, dated 17th November 1888. The remainder of the deaths
was spread over twenty-one districts. The heavy mortality in Ganjám shows that
the population of the district is not sufficiently protected, and that the correctness
of the yearly record of vaccination work, as shown in the returns, is open to
question.
21. The grade of protection afforded to the population in the municipal and
rural areas against the inroads of small-pox is shown in the diagrams attached.
These have been inserted in compliance with G.O., No. 523, Public, dated 6th July
1893, and amply prove that, with the advance of vaccination, mortality from small-
pox has appreciably declined. Ten districts and thirty-five municipalities have
yet to exert themselves to cross the mean.
22. Statement V in the appendix shows the results of inspection conducted by
District Medical and Sanitary Officers and Civil Surgeons. The success rate, as
reported by these officers, is in the majority of cases more favourable than that given
by Deputy Inspectors of Vaccination. The greater portion of the cases seen by
District Medical and Sanitary Officers was either in municipal towns or in hos-
pitals or dispensaries, and it is but natural to suppose that the vaccinators concerned
will take care to conceal failures. Having had no opportunities during the year of
testing the work done by vaccinators, I am unable to bring personal experience to
bear on this matter.
23. During the year under notice, three Deputy Inspectors retired from service
and one died; one Deputy Inspector was suspended for three months for certain
irregularities in his conduct and ten others were fined for carelessness.
24. Under the operation of G.O., No. 435, Public, dated 17th April 1897,
certificated Sanitary Inspectors will fill vacancies as they occur in the grade of
Deputy Inspector of Vaccination. This, it is hoped, will impart a more healthy tone
to the Vaccination department, doing away with the promotion of illiterate vacci-
nators to the responsible grade of Deputy Inspectors.
25. The Government has not as yet passed orders on the proposal made by
the Inspector of Vaccination in his letter No. 334-A/V, dated 30th March 1898, to vest
this office with the power to move Deputy Inspectors from one district to another,
withdrawing the power of veto from Presidents of District Boards.
26. In the last month of the year under review, G.O., No. 299 L., dated 18th
February 1898, approving of the scheme elaborated by Surgeon-Major Bannerman
for the better working of vaccination in rural tracts, was received. Presidents of
District Boards were consulted as to how far they were prepared to give effect to
the provisions of the Government Order. Except the Nellore and Salem District
Boards, all Presidents have signified their approval of the scheme and their readi-
ness to work it. The excepted districts have evolved schemes of their own and
expressed their unwillingness to effecting any change. It is hoped that, under the
operation of the above Government Order, a better record of work accomplished
may be shown for the current year.