REPORT ON VACCINATION.
11
previous year. The number of infants vaccinated under one year of age was 762.
The Deputy Inspector suggests that compulsory measures be adopted for spreading
vaccination in the Ceded Districts. In the absence of any such law much might
be done by the Tahsildars and other native officials by subjecting their own children
freely to the operation and thus set an example to others. Enlightened people not
only object to the extraction of lymph from the arms of their own children, but
also often prevent lymph being taken from the children of their servants and
friends. Small-pox broke out in the circle, and immediate arrangements were
made to check its further spread by vaccinating the unprotected. The Deputy
Inspector complains that no travelling batta is conceded to him, and the lack of a
peon is much felt in transacting his work. The conduct of the staff has been
uniformly good, and the average cost of each case vaccinated is Annas 9 and Pies 5.
Thirteen vaccination certificates have been granted to candidates during the year.
GOOTY CIRCLE.
The Assistant Deputy Inspector reports 5,854 operations during the year
with 5,173 successful, 404 unsuccessful, and 277 unknown results. The total shows
an increase of 1,980 cases when compared with the number vaccinated during the
preceding year. This increase is due, the Deputy Inspector thinks, to cholera and
small-pox having been less prevalent in the district than in the previous year.
The staff of Vaccinators was not complete during the year as some were on leave.
There was one death among the staff. Objection to the spread of vaccination
existed in some parts of the circle, and many people were reluctant to undergo the
vaccine operation during the time the famine lasted. The Deputy Inspector
suggests that vaccination be made compulsory till the people appreciate the
benefits of vaccination. Much difficulty exists in procuring arm lymph for transfer,
and the Deputy Inspector suggests that the people be allowed a small amount of
money to enable the Vaccinators to extract lymph from the arms of children. No.
batta to mothers was paid during the year. The cost of each successful case was
Annas 6 and Pies 4.
CHINGLEPUT DISTRICT.
The Deputy Inspector reports 22,789 operations during the year under notice
with a percentage of 94.47 of success, and the results in 3,479 cases were not known.
The total, comprising the work of the permanent and temporary staff, shows an
increase of 7,527 cases, exclusive of the work performed by the temporary Vaccina-
tors, when compared with the number of cases vaccinated during the preceding year.
The increase is attributed to the relief-camps which were opened in the district on
account of famine, and the coolies in these camps were compelled to be vaccinated.
The largest amount of work, viz., 3,317, was performed by Second-class Vaccinator
Coopoosawmy, No. 633, with 2,092 successful results. Small-pox was prevalent
in the district and four temporary Vaccinators were entertained to check the
progress of the epidemic. The Deputy Inspector suggests that if the Tahsildars and
heads of villages be directed to interest themselves in spreading vaccination, that
a considerable amount of work can thus easily be performed with the assistance of
the Revenue officials. The number of children vaccinated under one year of
age was 1,238; of this number 256 were operated on by Second-class Vaccinator
Visvanathum, No. 721, with 225 successful results. 37 vaccination certificates were
granted to candidates who appeared for examination. The Deputy Inspector states
that Second-class Vaccinators of Chingleput Circle have been granted famine batta
during the year, while the Vaccinators of the Saidapet Circle have been refused,
although they have worked very hard. He complains of the insufficiency of the staff
of Vaccinators to meet the wants of the district and the absence of any induce-
ment to the unpaid volunteers to work satisfactorily. The conduct of the staff has