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Nos. 881, 882 L., 18TH AUGUST 1905.
GOVERNMENT OF MADRAS.
LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT.
READ—the following paper :—
Letter—from Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. KING, C.I.E., I.M.S., Sanitary Commis-
sioner for Madras.
To—the Secretary to Government, Local and Municipal Department.
Dated—the 20th July 1905.
No.—1180.
ABSTRACT.—Forwarding the Annual Vaccination Report for 1904-1905.
Order—No. 881 L., dated 18th August 1905.
Years.
1902-1903
..
..
..
..
1903-1904
..
..
..
..
1904-1905
..
..
..
..
Total number
of cases.
1,332,209
1,309,985
1,483,269
The total number of vaccine operations performed during the year largely exceeded
that of the previous year and the ground
lost in 1903-1904 was thus more than
regained, the District Boards of Malabar,
Madura, Tinnevelly, Trichinopoly, Kistna
and Granjám having contributed an increase
of more than .10,000 cases each. There was also an increase in the work done in
Municipal areas, which amounted, on the whole, to 9 per cent. against 14 per cent. in
the areas under District Boards.
2. Though the total number of re-vaccinations rose from 69,330 to 76,280, it
compares unfavourably with the results of.1902-1903 (81,447 cases). This decline
appeared mainly in the Local Fund areas in the districts of Gódávari, South Canara
and Madura, and the Presidents of the District Boards concerned should take measures
for effecting an improvement in this direction.
3. The percentage of success fell from 90.8 to 86.8 and this is attributable in part
to the lack of skill on the part of the vaccinators in many of the districts in performing
operations with the lanoline paste which was supplied to them for the first time from
the King Institute. It is noted however that the earlier issues of lanoline vaccine
from this Institute were not entirely satisfactory; the supply however improved in
character and the proportion of successful operations gradually increased in each
quarter. The Government consider that, although the percentage of success for the
year was below the average for previous years, this may have been due, partly at any
rate, to greater accuracy in the returns of cases verified.
4. In spite of the low proportion of success, there was a considerable increase in
the total number of successful cases and a reduction in the average cost of each such
case. The cost of each successful operation was however in excess of As. 4 in the
districts of Cuddapah, Gódávari, the Nilgiris. North Arcot and South Canara and in
excess of As. 8 in the Municipalities of Anantapur, Bellary, Bimlipatam, Coonoor and
Erode. The Local Bodies concerned must take steps to require a larger number of
operations from their vaccinators.
It is observed that in many cases the figures as to the actual cost of each successful
operation are misleading owing to the failure of the Local Bodies concerned to adjust
the cost of the lymph supplied to them within the year. Arrangements should be
made to ensure punctual adjustment of these charges in future years.
5. The number of children under one year successfully vaccinated rose from
423,584 to 434,701. But in the Municipalities of Anantapur, Coonoor, Karúr,
Kodaikánal, Kumbakónam, Nellore, Tiruppattúr and Vizianagram less than one-half of
the number of children available for vaccination according to the registers of births
were protected from small-pox; and the attention of the Municipal Councils concerned
is drawn to the subject, with the request that they will strictly enforce the compulsory
provisions of the District Municipalities Act in regard to vaccination.