OFFICE OF SANITARY COMMISSIONER,
CAMP MADURA, 19th June 1894.
No. T/8.
From
SURGEON-LT.-COLONEL W. G. KING, M.B., C.M., D.P.H.,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner for Madras,
To
THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
Local and Municipal Department,
Fort St. George.
SIR,
I have the honour to forward the Administration Report by the Inspector of
Vaccination for the year 1893-94.
2. The outturn of work fulfilled is, I would respectfully submit, satisfactory.
The total number of cases performed by vaccinators per head has increased,
showing that activity has prevailed throughout all branches of the department.
The large increase of re-vaccination is, I think, having regard to the great import-
ance of the adult population receiving the full confirmation of protection afforded
by the operation in infancy, a feature of great importance sanitarily and economi-
cally. Taking, however, into consideration the fact that, although there is a total
increase of operations to the extent of 14,291, a decline of 1,109 cases of primary
operations has occurred, the conclusion might be arrived at by Government, that
the greater attention paid to the vaccination of adolescents had led to neglect of
the primary operation. I have shown, however, in the ' Annual Report of the
Sanitary Commissioner' for 1893, paragraph 9, that during 1892 and 1893, there
were over 94,000 less births in the Registration Circles of the Presidency than the
registered rate for 1891 would warrant being looked for—a result, in the main, due
to decreased prosperity inducing decline of the marriage rate. The decrease in the
infantile population must, therefore, have acted adversely, and it is to be presumed
that this influence will be experienced throughout the current year, as the tendency
in non-compulsory areas is to defer, as far as possible, vaccination beyond the first
year of life.
3. The history of the department since the first efforts to use solely animal
lymph in 1890, has clearly shown that fresh lymph must be largely supplemented
by preserved. As a matter of evolution, demands for central vaccine depôts have
arisen on all sides from District Boards. In these, the Inspector of Vaccination
shows in paragraph 19, what is a foregone conclusion, that correct cultivation of
lymph, with the skill and under the conditions available, cannot be depended upon.
In my humble opinion, the only possible solution of the difficulties attending the
entire use of animal lymph in this Presidency is the acceptance by Government
of the task of maintaining the efficacy of the stock of lymph on behalf of the local
bodies, by the establishment of a Vaccine Institute replete with every modern
sanitary appliance and supervised by skilled medical men.
4. If Government be not prepared to render vaccination compulsory through-
out the Presidency, I would respectfully draw attention to the desirability of, at
least, making it applicable to Major Unions.
5. The method of inspecting systematically a whole Range under the charge of
a Deputy Inspector successfully followed by Surgeon-Captain Bannerman, must
prove of great advantage in enabling a correct check to be kept upon the proceed-
ings of subordinates.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
W. G. KING, D.P.H., Surgeon-Lt.-Colonel,
Acting Sanitary Commissioner for Madras.