22
VACCINATION REPORT.
20. Analysis of the primary vaccination figures of the preceding tables yields
the following points of interest as regards efficiency of the various forms of vaccine
employed:—
(1) Lanoline paste supplied from the Mysore Government Vaccine Institute
gives in rural areas a percentage of 91.92 and in towns of 95.0. It is supplied
at fortnightly intervals to districts which include Tinnevelly and Ganjám—the
extreme limits of the Presidency—and it is prepared with a strength of 1 in 7.
(2) Glycerine paste is either made in more or less Central District depots or
is prepared by vaccinators themselves, according to the system obtaining. In the
latter case, the paste is prepared merely as a supplementary measure to the use of
fresh animal lymph for economy, and as it is used almost at once by the person
preparing it, the glycerine is used more as a diluent than as a preservative. In
this case the result show a percentage of 95.9 both for rural areas and for towns,
while the results from regular depots supplying paste with glycerine as a pre-
servative give a percentage of 88.5 in rural areas and of 95.2 in towns, where it
is used immediately. In the depots, it is prepared of various strengths ranging
from 1 in 2½ to 1 in 1¾, and is supplied at weekly intervals.
(3) A few districts use lanoline paste made in their own depots. This
gives results of 85.2 per cent. in rural areas and 88.3 in towns.
(4) The percentage for the Mysore supplied lanoline paste for rural areas
would have been 94.1 but for the district of Ganjám (86.6), which, with large
Agency areas and a very inferior staff of vaccinators, has always been very-
backward as regards results, irrespective of the nature of vaccine employed.
(5) The results given by medical subordinates are 84.1 and 76.2 for
glycerine and lanoline paste, respectively. These have tended to depress both
averages, but especially the latter.
From the above, it seems clear (1) that the conditions under which depot
work is carried on largely influence results, and that no local depots can possibly
compete as regards efficiency and success with a Central Institute, in which the
staff is specially trained and sufficient in numbers, with of course great superiority
as regards buildings and equipment, (2) that glycerine paste gives results which
approximate to those of fresh animal lymph if used at once or almost at once, but
which are inferior in proportion to the amount of delay that may occur, and that
it is therefore incapable of prolonged retention of activity—possibly a matter
of minor consideration in a temperate climate, but of special importance in the
tropics.
21. The deaths from small-pox amounted to 21,195 against 12,173 last year.
This increase is due to severe epidemics in Gódávari (3,605), South Arcot (2,748),
Tanjore (2,486) and Madura (2,362). The two districts Gódávari and Tanjore, as
will be seen from table at paragraph 8, are particularly backward as regards vaccina-
tion, and it is to be hoped that special efforts will be made this year to improve
matters, giving special attention to the importance of insisting on prompt reports
of early cases being sent in by village heads, a duty which is a good deal neglected
in many districts. Epidemics of this kind are, of course, inevitable with large
numbers of unprotected children in rural areas, and merely emphasise the necessity
of declaring vaccination compulsory in these areas as well as in municipalities.
Such an extension moreover would probably cause far less dissatisfaction than
the present methods in which the " influence " of the Revenue authorities is largely
relied on.
Tanjore.
Anantapur.
Ganjám.
Gódávari.
North Arcot.
Nellore.
Malabar.
22. As required by G.O., No. 523, Public, dated 6th July 1893, the attached
diagrams have been prepared to show the effects on the death-rates of protection
from small-pox in each district and municipality. In accordance with G.Os.,
Nos. 212 and 213 L., dated 7th February 1900, the diagrams are prepared from
vaccination figures for seven years and from small-pox mortality of the most recent
year for which figures are complete, in this
case 1899-1900. From this it will be seen
that the marginally-noted districts are still
backward as regards the grade of protection
afforded against the small-pox.