( 3 )
sanitation. He notices with satisfaction the opinion recorded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Clarkson that the conservancy arrangements in Municipalities are
steadily improving, and that the expenditure under this head is increasing.
A brief reference is made to a number of the more important drainage and
water-supply schemes under preparation or under actual construction. The
Lieutenant-Gevernor will again allude to these when dealing with the annual
reports on the working of District Boards and Municipalities. The services
of the Sanitary Board and their Engineer were largely used in working out
these schemes.
11. Vaccination.—The morality from small-pox increased very largely,
the number of deaths recorded being 23,543 in 1936-1907, as compared with
12,090 in 1905-1906. In last year's resolution the unsatisfactory vaccination
results in the district of Puri were specially noticed. The results now reported
are even more unsatisfactory. The death-rate from this cause for the district
rose from 2.84 to the abnormal figure or 4.72 per mille, and at the same time
the number of successful operations performed fell from 43,808 to 40,682.
Sanction has recently been accorded to a scheme formulated by the Civil
Surgeon for increasing the number and pay of the vaccinators employed in
the district, and the Sanitary Commissioner will be directed to make a special
and thorough enquiry into the causes of the abnormally high death-rate now
reported. A severe outbreak of small-pox occurred in the Darjeeling district
during the year, and as a natural result there was a large increase in the
number of operations performed. Unfortunately the lymph supplied from
the Government depôt at Ghoom was found to have deteriorated, and
considerable difficulty was experienced in checking the epidemic. Under the
orders of the Lieutenant-Governor a special enquiry was made into the
causes of the failure of the lymph by the Sanitary Commissioner and the
Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, and steps have now been taken to guard
against such a contingency occurring in the future. The large decrease in the
number of operations in Calcutta, 41,300, as compared with 85,287 in 1905-1906,
is very noticeable, and the explanation given in the report is hardly satisfactory;
the death-rate from small-pox in Calcutta is still very high (2.09). With these
exceptions the vaccination work generally compares favourably with that
performed during the previous year. The total number of operations performed
in the Province during the year 1906-1907 was 2,037,273 against 2,041,230 in
1905-1906. Anti-septic vaccination was introduced throughout the Province,
and on the whole the results appear to have been satisfactory.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
H. J. McINTOSH,
Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.
Nos. 677—681T.—San.
COPY (with a copy of the Report and of the Annual Statistical Returns and
short notes on Vaccination in Bengal for the year 1906-1907) forwarded to
the
(1) Sanitary Commissioner (his attention is invited to the remarks in paragraph 11
of the Resolution regarding vaccination in the district of Puri),
(2) Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals,
(3) Inspector-General of Prisons,
(4) inspector-General of Police,
(5) Secretary, Sanitary Board,
Bengal, for information.
Circular No. 10T.—San.
Copy (with a copy of the Report and of the Annual Statistical Returns and
short notes on Vaccination in Bengal for the year 1906-1907) forwarded to all
Commissioners of Divisions for information, and for communication to all
District Officers in their respective Divisions.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
J. C. K. PETERSON,
Under-Secy. to the Govt. of Bengal.
DARJEELING,
The 10th July 1907.
B. S. Press—20-8-1907—3415-600 -J. A. M.