2
Nos. 918, 919 L., 2ND AUGUST 1904.
GOVERNMENT OF MADRAS.
LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT.
READ—the following paper :—
From Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. KING, C.I.E., I.M.S., Sanitary Commissioner
for Madras, No. 657-V., dated 11th July 1904.
ABSTRACT.—Forwarding the Annual Vaccination Report for 1903-1904.
ORDER—No. 918 L., 2nd August 1904.
The decline in the total number of vaccinations performed during the year,
notwith standing an increase in the number of vaccinators, is regrettable. It
occurred chiefly in the work of Local Fund Vaccinators in the districts of Ganjam,
Tinnevelly, Malabar and South Canara. The reasons given for the decline cannot
be regarded as adequate; and the attention of the Collectors concerned will be
drawn to the matter. Neither the Inspector of Vaccination nor the Sanitary
Commissioner gives any explanation of the alleged insufficient or irregular supply
of lymph and paste and how far this was attributable to the neglect of the local
authorities. The grant of leave to vaccinators without providing substitutes to
such an extent as to affect the number of vaccinations performed indicates lax
administration. While vaccination in Municipalities as a whole was stationary,
there was a large and unsatisfactory decrease in the City of Madras and in
Dindigul, the fall in the latter town being more than 52 per cent. The Chairman
of the Municipal Council is requested to explain this serious decline and report
what steps the Council has taken to recover the lost ground.
Years.
1901-1902
1902-1903
1903-1904
Number of cases.
89,910
81,447
69,330
2. There was again a large decline in the number of re-vaccinations as shown
in the margin. The Government must impress on
the District Boards and Municipal Councils the
great importance of this branch of vaccination work,
if the population is to be protected effectively.
3. The percentage of success remained almost stationary in the case of
primary and secondary vaccinations; but there was a slight rise in the case of
re-vaccinations. In the Anantapur and the Nilgiri districts the rate of success was
higher than that under primary and secondary vaccinations. The Inspector of
Vaccination should have stated whether there was any reason to believe that in
these districts or elsewhere any considerable number of cases of secondary vaccina-
tion were erroneously classified as re-vaccinations (vide G.O., No. 933 L., dated
28th July 1903, paragraph 2).
4. A satisfactory feature of the year's work was an increase of 41,505 in the
number of successful vaccinations on children under one year. This occurred both
in Municipal and in Local Fund areas, but chiefly in the latter, the Districts of
South Arcot, Chingleput and Coimbatore having contributed an increase of more
than 5,000 cases each—a result on which the Government congratulate them. On
the other hand, the vaccination of infants received very little attention in Mala-
bar and South Canara, although the special attention of the Presidents of these
District Boards was drawn to the subject in paragraph 4 of G.O., No. 933 L., dated
28th July 1903. They are requested to report the steps which they have taken or
propose to take to secure better results in future. In the towns of Anantapur,
Bellary, Coimbatore, Coonoor, Kumbakonam, Masulipatam, Nellore, Palni and
Tanjore less than one-half of the number of children available for vaccination,
according to the birth registers, were protected from small-pox. This is most
unsatisfactory and the Municipal Councils concerned should bestow their attention
seriously upon this subject and enforce obedience to the provisions of the District
Municipalities Act in regard to compulsory vaccination. Where vaccination is
compulsory, no system of paying rewards to vaccinators seems to be needed.