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estimated figures of the year, viz., 38.57. The latter should be adopted in
future. These show that 32.06 per cent. of the infant population was pro-
tected. This falls considerably below the average of other Provinces, which
according to latest estimates is 45.52, and the question why results should be
so indifferent in some districts is not satisfactorily answered. There may be
defective classification of ages or greater willingness to bring forward children
in some localities than in others, but the effect of these causes should be more
closely examined. In Darbhanga 41 per cent. of the infants were vaccinated
during the last year against an average of 7.4 per cent. in the years 1896—1899.
And similar results are to be noticed in the 24-Parganas, Bankura, and
Birbhum. In Muzaffarpur only 10 per cent. of infants were vaccinated
against 41 in the neighbouring district of Darbhanga, while in Rangpur the
number doubled that of Bogra. If the causes which led to these inequalities
were investigated, defects might be removed. The same results are to be seen
in towns where vaccination is compulsory. In the Burdwan towns practically
all the infants were vaccinated, while in those of Midnapore less than 40 per
cent. were protected. The figures in Statement VII, which show the protec-
tion afforded to infants in towns, are, however, of doubtful value, and in some
cases the number of vaccinations greatly exceed the number of births. Until
these points are explained, and it is established that the Vaccination Depart-
ment and the local officers have done all that is possible, Government cannot
consider the suggestion to extend compulsory measures to rural areas.
6. In the Resolution on the last triennial report, a hope was expressed
that further experience would enable some conclusion to be based on the
statistics of vaccination as to its effect in reducing the mortality from small-
pox. This subject has not been discussed in the present report, and, so far as
can be gathered from the diagrams in paragraph 13 and the figures in
Statement VI, the results are not encouraging. In Mymensingh there has
always been a comparatively large percentage of vaccinations, amounting to
over 4 per cent. of the population, but in 1901 the deaths from small-pox
considerably exceeded those of other districts in the Division. In Shahabad,
where vaccination has been very restricted, the deaths from small-pox have
been less than in the neighbouring districts of Patna and Gaya. On the other
hand, a comparison of the three districts of the Orissa Division shows that
Balasore, where vaccination is normal, has been freer from small-pox than
Cuttack and Puri, where it is defective. The percentage of population which
is protected is unfortunately so small everywhere that no conclusions are
possible from the statistics now available. It will be sufficient in future reports
to give one diagram for the last year of the triennial period. The space so
saved can be utilised in those explanations of the statistics, and comments upon
them, which are so lacking upon the present occasion. The Lieutenant-
Governor repeats the remark that more useful and telling work is done in small
areas where the vaccination is careful and complete than by vaccination on
an apparently much larger scale, where it is only occasional. It is from the
former that the most clear and unmistakeable evidence can be given to all
around of the protection which vaccination gives.
7. The average cost of vaccination for the period was Rs. 1,86,782,
which shows a steady decline on the averages of the two preceding triennia.
Of the total amount, a sum of about Rs. 1,30,000 was expended on the cost of
supervision and travelling charges, and about Rs. 28,000 on paid vaccinators.
The total cost in 1901-1902 to Provincial funds was Rs. 1,44,225. The
balance, with the exception of a small payment of Rs. 2,844 made by the
Native States of Chota Nagpur, was met from local funds. This is exclusive
of the fees paid to the licensed operators.
8. The mortality from small-pox was greater during the triennium than
during any period of the past ten years. The epidemic was severest in the
Midnapore district and in Orissa. In the report of the Sanitary Commis-
sioner the spread of the disease is attributed to the practice of exposing
children to its attack when the small-pox is believed to be mild in character.
This practice should be more fully investigated. Vigorous measures were
taken to combat the disease, and vaccination increased in the affected
districts.