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14.—COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SEVERAL CIRCLES.
Circles.
Kumaon Division,
...
Rohilkhund, ...
Agra and Meerut, ...
Allahabad and Jhansie, ...
Benares, ...
Average n u mb e r vaccina-
ted per men-
sem by each
vaccinateor.
368
288
239
189
167
Percentage of
success
in
primary
cases.
95.20
87.13
88.90
82.60
85.70
Percentage of
all ages vacci-
nated on birth
addition.
153.34
46.13
43.62
34.47
17.88
Percentage of
those under
one year of
age vaccina-
ted on birth
addition.
36.66
12.88
13.97
18.80
11.63
Remarks.
This table supports the views that I have always advanced, that where vaccination
has been longest in existence there the people take to it the most kindly, and there
the vaccinators are the most skilled in their art. I am not prepared to say that it
would be possible to stamp out small-pox altogether in India, for there are such hydra-
headed difficulties to encounter (the fact of our only being able to work for five
months in each year being the chief); but I firmly believe that if the Government is
prepared to spend its money, and is determined that every civil authority shall be made
to feel that it is a part of his duty to promote vaccination by all legitimate means
short of actual compulsion, such an impression will be made upon this ghastly disease
that the mortality tables will cease to be the scandal that they now are to our enlight-
ened rule.
15.—VACCINE DEPARTMENT TO BE A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE.
Assuming that the saving of life and the preservation of health are objects to be
desired, I have no hesitation in saying that more can be effected in this country by
vaccination than any other known sanitary measure. The sum allotted for a vaccine
department is to my mind a fair index of the amount of knowledge or interest possessed
by a Government as to what vaccination is capable of doing. Here in the North-Western
Provinces we are ahead of some of our neighbours in that respect, but still we have
not much to boast of. Our system, with some exceptions, I regard as admirable and
needing but little change : it requires only development by gradual but greatly increased
extension. In my opinion the Vaccine Department should be an acknowledged depart-
ment of the State, having high functions to perform, with great responsibilities attached
to their performance.
It should have the entire control of the vaccination within the
provinces allotted to it: no other systems separate from it should be for one moment
tolerated.
Every vaccinator in the province should be a servant of the department, trained in
it and supervised by it, and the department held responsible by the Government for
their doings. This is not now the case ; ignoramuses in the shape of hukeems, dis-
pensary native doctors, and midwives being permitted by Government, at the instance
of municipalities, to discharge the duties of vaccinators to the lasting discredit of vac-
cination. This should not be: no one ought to be allowed to undertake such a responsi-
ble post unless fully qualified in every way; and a continuance of such qualifications can
only be ensured by his being the servant of the department, under its orders and its
control only. This is a subject embracing some delicate considerations, and I prefer
not to enlarge upon it now, but shall reserve all further observations until I have the
opportunity of a personal interview with His Honor.
There are matters pertaining to pay which also need attention: one uniform rate
for old and new vaccinators is not conducive to contentment or zeal; and the scale for
native superintendents is insufficient for the maintenance of the stamp of men we want.
If it is desirable to have a vaccine department at all, it should be made and kept
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