2
14TH OCTOBER 1890, Nos. 2618, 2619 L., LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL.
3. Excluding the work done in the cantonments of Bangalore and Secunderabad,
the proportion of the total number of operations performed during the year per 1,000
of the population was 28.3, against 26.1 in 1888-89 and 23.8 in 1887-88. Infantile
vaccination, however, was in a very backward state, as only 20.4 per cent. of the
number of children born during the year were successfully protected from small-pox.
4. The average work done by each vaccinator was 1,061 operations or 88 per
mensem, against 986 or 82 per mensem in 1888-89, but the outturn is still quite
inadequate. The Government is glad to observe that the average outturn of work
for each Government vaccinator was more than double that of last year. Excluding
these, the highest average (1,100 cases) is shown by the Local Fund vaccinators,
and the lowest (617 cases) by the Cantonment vaccinators. As regards the quality of
work, it appears that 95.7 per cent. of the operations performed by the Local Fund
and Municipal vaccinators who work under the immediate supervision of Deputy
Inspectors were reported to be successful; but the average result after inspection by
the latter officers was only 91.4 per cent. In the case of operations conducted by
other Municipal vaccinators, 93 per cent. were successful; while in the case of
those performed by Medical subordinates attached to dispensaries and hospitals, the
percentage was only 85.9.
5. Local Fund Circles.—The outturn of work by Local Fund Vaccinators has in-
creased by 92,792 cases or 14.7 per cent. as compared with 1887-88, and by 42,294 cases
or 6.2 per cent. as compared with 1888-89. The work performed in individual circles is
noticed by Government in reviewing the administration reports of the several District
Boards, and will be further dealt with in the general review of Local Fund operations
for 1889-90. Of the 21 districts, all but five show an advance, as compared with the
last-mentioned year, the results being especially good in Kurnool, Trichinopoly,
Vizagapatam and Chingleput; while Ganjam, South Canara and Coimbatore show
large decreases, and Godávari and Bellary a somewhat smaller one. The falling off
in Ganjam is, no doubt, to be attributed to the effect of the famine, but there is no
similar excuse apparent in the case of the other districts referred to. The large falling
off in the number of vaccine operations in South Canara is attributed in the Presi-
dent's report to the absence of small-pox, to the absence of a large number of vacci-
nators on long leave, and to the lack of supervision over the work of the vaccinators,
but the Government quite agrees with Dr. King that these reasons are not satis-
factory, and the President has been so informed. Regarding the decline in Coimba-
tore, the Government desires to receive further information from the President of the
District Board, showing the reasons for the ruling said to have been passed that
excess operations are not to be paid for unless certified to by the Deputy Inspector.
The decrease in Godávari and Bellary is very unsatisfactory, and the attention of the
Presidents of the District Boards of Nílgiris and Anantapur is invited to the fact that
operations on males in the one case, and females in the other, show a decline during
the year under review. The Government is disposed to agree with the Inspector
of Vaccination in his remarks in paragraph 9 of the report regarding the inexpediency of
appointing Deputy Inspectors of Vaccination as members of Local Boards, and Collectors
will accordingly be requested not to recommend such officers for nomination in future
except in exceptional cases. But the Inspector's suggestions in paragraph 10 of his
report that the cost of issuing certificates of vaccination for Grant-in-aid schools should
be debited to the District Board's education grant cannot be approved. Dr. King seems
to have lost sight of the fact that these certificates are required, not in the interests
of education, but in those of vaccination. If he is able to suggest any arrangements
by which the drawbacks of the present system can be diminished, the Government
will be prepared to consider them.
6. Municipalities.—The work done in individual Municipalities receives the
notice of Government in the reviews of their administration reports and will be
further dealt with in the General Municipal review for 1889-90. It may be
observed here, however, that the complete failure to make progress which Munici-
palities; as a whole exhibit is a serious reflection on their administration, and
suggests the necessity for a uniform improvement in methods of inspection and