VACCINATION REPORT.
9
District Board Vaccinators. When it is possible to transmit animal lymph without
deterioration, undoubtedly the superior skill of Medical Subordinates will be
evident in their showing satisfactory ratios of success; under the present conditions,
such results cannot be well looked for.
EXPENDITURE ON VACCINATION DURING 1889-90.
18. The total expenditure of the department was Rs. 1,85,194-9-7, of which
Government contributed Rs. 7,122-11-7 on account of Government establish-
ments and Cantonments, Municipalities Rs. 26,036-5-1, Local Fund Circles Rs.
1,51,455-11-5, and Native States Rs. 579-13-6. Although the total expenditure for
the year is Rs. 4,238-6-4 in excess of last official year 1888-89, and Rs. 9,408-3-11
in excess of that of 1887-88, the cost of each successful vaccination has been
reduced from Annas 3-11 in 1888-89 to Annas 3-8 in 1889-90.
ANIMAL VACCINATION.
19. This method was first introduced practically into this Presidency by
Dr. Laing, now Sanitary Commissioner, in 1879. Since this period it has been
adopted in district after district, till, at the present time, there are only six districts
in which it is not practised. The methods employed vary; in some districts
inoculated calves are sent out with the Deputy Inspectors throughout the year, and
thus a fresh generation of lymph is placed at disposal of each vaccinator at the time
of inspection of his division ; in others, a calf is retained in a vaccinator's division
for a certain number of months in the year, and is then passed on to others in the
district.
* This number is in addi-
tion to the total performed
by the ordinary staff of the
district.
20. In Kurnool, a staff—varying in number from month to month—was
employed on my recommendation, as the then District Medical
and Sanitary Officer, which undertook vaccination solely by
animal lymph. Each vaccinator was supplied with a calf, and
a total of 17,852* cases were performed at a total cost of
Rs. 1,300-8-9, including all charges, except the pay of Hospital Assistants who did
1,175 cases. The experiment showed that if possessed of the large store of lymph
available when using calves as vaccinifers, a fairly energetic man could perform 500
cases per month. A scheme was consequently placed before the District Board for
abolishing the large staff necessary when employing humanized lymph, and for
limiting them to one man per taluk, on the increased pay of Rs. 20 (against Rs. 10
and Rs. 15 formerly given) plus a fixed travelling allowance of Rs. 7-8-0. This
scheme has been sanctioned by Government for the ensuing year. One of the most
satisfactory features of the experiment is, that instead of the former ignorant class
of men, those newly entertained have passed the Matriculation Test, with the excep-
tion of a Brahmin, who has passed the Middle School Examination. It remains to
see how far this respectable class of men will be content to serve under the evil
conditions of climate found at Kurnool, and it is on this account, somewhat un-
fortunate, that an experiment of so much importance should involve this possible
element of failure. I may add that this scheme will not cost the District Board
more than Rs. 1,090, over and above their usual allotment. This district is there-
fore the first in the Presidency to abolish in toto the use of humanized lymph.
The readiness with which the necessity for this new order of things was grasped
unanimously by the District Board of Kurnool does its administration great credit.
21. EXPENDITURE ON ANIMAL VACCINATION.—Necessarily the expenditure incurred
on animal vaccination differs in various districts, as a result of the degree of facility
with which animals can be hired or bought, and the varying modes of affording
help to the vaccinators, or Deputy Inspectors in charge. Local authorities are
doubtless best qualified to ascertain a fair price to be given for calves, but attention
is required as to the variable charges made under contingencies; e.g., in one
district it is thought necessary to hire eight men each time lymph is transferred,
whilst elsewhere the Deputy Inspector manages to effect work with the aid of his
peon, calf-watchman, and perhaps a village servant. These variations are to be
expected in starting a new method, and will be rectified by this office in communi-
cation with the Presidents of District Boards. Table XI exhibits the total charges,
3