VACCINATION REPORT
11
of primary and re-vaccinations is open to fallacy as a large increase in the number
of re-vaccinations would greatly lower the combined rate, because the success
rate in re-vaccination is invariably lower than in primary vaccination. It would
therefore be strictly more correct to compare the success rate under primary
(including secondary) from year to year. A perusal of the previous annual
reports on vaccination in the Presidency shows that the success rate in primary
vaccination which was 91.8 in 1913-14 came down to 90.8 in the next year, 87.7
in 1915-16 and 86.7 during the year under report. Special instructions in the
form of circulars were issued during 1916-17 to ensure the prompt use of lymph
and with the same end in view, as a trial, tri-monthly supply of lymph was
made to five Municipalities—Vizagapatam, Cocanada, Nellore, Coimbatore and
Anantapur. In spite of it all the success rate has gone down. As in the past
year, loud complaints were received from several districts regarding the poor
quality of lymph but none of these could stand close scrutiny and most of them
were based on some change in the colour of the vaccine paste due entirely to the
kind of lanoline now obtained from England but which in no way affects the
quality of the lymph. What is however of much more serious consequence in
my opinion than the reduced percentage of success is the lowered quality of
the results secured in successful cases within the last few years. I have over and
over again drawn attention to this increasing defect in my Inspection Notes
on Vaccination in the districts and there is little doubt whatever that the persist
ence of small-pox in many districts is much due to this. The main cause for
such continuous fall in success rate appears to be the ignorance and inefficiency of
the present class of ill-paid, uneducated and unqualified vaccinators. In every
district there is dearth of suitable hands for vaccinators' appointment as no one
can be tempted into an employment which carries no living wages while the duties
attendent upon it are particularly arduous. The remedy lies in giving effect to
the long deferred schemes of improving the pay and prospects of the vaccination
staff.
Infantile vaccination.—When compared with the previous year the following
districts show a decided increase:—Ganjām ( + 16.9), Kurnool (+16.5), Kistna
(+6.3), South Kanara (+5.3) and the Nilgiris (+5.0). The districts which show a
marked decrease in this respect are Nellore (—11.1), South Arcot (—10.5), Cud-
dapah, (—9.7), Coimbatore (—7.9), Vizagapatam (—7.4) and Malabar (— 6.0). The
Municipalities which show a marked increase in infantile vaccination are :—Bellary
(+68.7), Palni (+48.0), Narsaraopet (+16.5), Anantapur (+14.7), Kurnool
( + 12.0), Mangalore (+11.2), Hospet ( + 11.2) and Ellore (+10.9). The Munici
palities which show a marked decrease in this respect are :—Erode (—60.7)
Trichinopoly (—33.8), Gudiyattam (—33.7), Negapatam (—32.7), Walajapet
(—27.3), Cannanore (—26.4), Vizianagram (—25.1), Chidambaram (—25.0),
Bimlipatam (—20.4), Calicut (—19.9), Tirupati (—19.3), Berhampur (—16.5),
Madras (—15.4), Chingleput (—15.3), Parlākimedi(—15.3), Periyakulam (—14.5),
Nellore (—14.2), Palghat (—14.1), Tuticorin (—13.8), Māyavaram ( 13.1),
Karūr (—12.4), Conjeeveram (—12.0), Mannārgudi (—11.7), Tiruvālūr (—11.5),
Tanjore (—11.3) and Adōni (—10.4).
(iv) The cost of the various vaccination staffs and the average cost of each
successful case are exhibited in the subjoined statement:—
Establishment.
Government establishment ...
Local fund
do. ...
Municipal
do. ...
Cantonments do. ...
Total ...
Total expenditure.
1915-16.
RS.
8,716
2,89,605
42,913
3,171
* 3,44,406
A.
13
0
12
0
11
P.
10
10
10
2
8
1916-17.
RS.
† 10,690
2,86,188
42,511
3,408
* 3,42,799
A.
12
5
8
15
8
P.
6
0
2
0
8
Average cost of each
successful case.
1915-16.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
A.
9
3
4
8
3
P.
0
8
4
3
9
1916-17.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
A.
9
3
4
11
4
P.
6
10
10
10
1
* Exclusive of the pay and allowances of the Inspector of Vaccination and Deputy Sanitary Commissioner.
† The main cause of the increase is the appointment of a second Deputy Inspector of Vaccination and a peon
to the Ganjān Hill Tracts.