4
VACCINATION REPORT.
B. Cost.—The total net expenditure of the vaccine section rose in 1913-14
to Rs. 48,912-15-11 by Rs. 2,945-0-8.
The increase occurred mainly under "Establishment charges." This increased
expenditure enhanced the cost per case of vaccine by 0.07 pies to 4.840069 pies.
C. Quality of vaccine.—The success rate of the vaccine manufactured at the
institute was as usual highest during the colder months of the year and showed
an average improvement of 3.6 per cent. over that of last year's. February
showed the highest success rate of 96.36 per cent. and June the lowest 81.61 per
cent. In the previous year the highest and lowest rates were recorded in January
(93.00) and May (80.57), respectively. Considered with reference to districts,
the average district success rate was 91.63 per cent. against 88.05 per cent. in
1912-13. Ramnad headed the list with a success rate of 97.76 per cent: the
lowest was recorded in Coimbatore (78.92 per cent.). The success rates in the
latter district were a matter of adverse comment during recent years and was
attributed to the existence of some local factors. A slight improvement is notice-
able in the year under review, evidently due to the change of personnel of the
vaccination staffs recently effected in the district.
VACCINATION DEPARTMENT.
A. Staff.—Captain O. A. R. Berkeley Hill, I. M.S., was in charge of the
office of Inspector of Vaccination from 1st to 24th April 1913, when he was
transferred. No officer having been appointed to take his place I took charge of
the office and retained it until 15th June when Captain M. J. Quirke, I.M.S., the
permanent incumbent, returned to duty from leave. He continued to hold it
until the receipt of orders of Government in G.O. No. 1416 Public, dated 17th
November 1913, when the new scheme of having three Deputy Sanitary Commis-
sioners for the Presidency was introduced. Under this scheme the Presidency
should have three ranges, viz., Northern Range, Central Range and Southern
Range, each in charge of a Deputy Sanitary Commissioner and Inspector of
Vaccination, the head-quarters of the three ranges being Waltair, Madras and
Coimbatore, respectively. Dr. K. T. Matthew, D.P.H., D.HY. (Cantab), was
appointed to the Northern Range, Captain M. J. Quirke, I.M.S., to the Central
Range and there being no officer available, I was placed in charge of the
Southern Range in addition to my duties as Sanitary Commissioner. This
arrangement continued till the end of the year. I have since been relieved of the
Southern Range duties, Captain Quirke having taken them up under orders of
Government in addition to his own, pending the appointment of the third Deputy
Sanitary Commissioner.
The subordinate vaccination staffs employed in the Presidency during the
past three years are exhibited in the following statement: —
Years.
1911-1912
...
...
1912-1913 ... ...
1913-1914
...
...
Deputy Inspectors.
First grade,
Rs. 70.
21
21
23
Second grade,
Rs 60.
24
23
23
Third grade,
Rs. 40.
37
38
36
First-class
vaccinators,
Rs. 20-15.
263
266
270
Second-class
vaccinators.
Rs. 12-10.
467
450
443
Third-class
vaccinators,
Rs. 7-5.
120
121
125
Total
number of
vaccinators.
850
837
838
Note.—These figures include the staffs employed in Bangalore and Secunderabad contonments and exclude those
on duty in the King Institute, Guindy. In the latter Institute there are three Deputy Inspectors of the first grade
and two of the second grade.
The rates of pay allowed to vaccinators are absurdly low, the minimum being
Rs. 5 per mensem. The consequence is that men recruited for these posts
are next to useless. The work turned out by such a class of men can hardly