( 2 )
per thousand of the population were successfully vaccinated. The figures of
the Patna district are even more unsatisfactory, and there is hardly a single
district of which the returns do not require some explanation. In previous
reviews of the vaccination report, the Lieutenant-Governor has noticed the
extraordinary discrepancies between the returns of different districts, especially
in the matter of infant protection, and he has more than once asked the
co-operation of the Sanitary Commissioner and District Officers with a view to
obtain better and clearer results. Similar discrepancies are, however, still
noticeable, and the Lieutenant-Governor must, therefore, insist upon District
Magistrates and Civil Surgeons now in each district undertaking an examination
of the lines of figures relating to their own jurisdictions in the manner indicated
above. To these officers every figure in the returns should have a real
meaning, and they should not let the matter drop until they have ascertained its
meaning; and the result of their examination should be reported to the Sanitary
Commissioner, who will then be in the position to advise Government as to the
necessity of any alteration in the system generally or in particular districts,
and also as to the desirability of any change in the forms of returns by which
the work is judged. The whole question of the relative advantages and
disadvantages of paid and licensed vaccinators is now under the consideration
of this Government and the Sanitary Commissioner on a reference from the
Government of India.
5. In view of the orders in the preceding paragraph, the Lieutenant-
Governor abstains this year from further comment on the figures in the statistical
statements and notes, although in some cases they are clearly incorrect, and
for the same reason he has not thought it necessary to have the percentages
calculated again on the populations according to the recent census. In the
figures of vaccinated children given above, all under six years have been
shown in order to avoid any material error from an erroneous classification of
children below one year and above one year.
6. Owing to the difficulty experienced by licensed vaccinators in
recovering their fees, a printed form of receipt was introduced last year
experimentally in certain districts. The Sanitary Commissioner has recently
reported that the experiment has been a success, and the form will now be
introduced generally. The difficulty mentioned in paragraph 15 of the
Sanitary Commissioner's notes in connection with the increasing demand for
lymph will, it is hoped, be met by the principal dep6t being relieved of the
work of supplying vaccinated calves and lymph to the Calcutta Municipality,
the work being undertaken by the Health Officer to the Corporation.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
H. M. KISCH,
Offg, Secretary to the Govt, of Bengal.
No. 2714S.
COPY of the above Resolution forwarded to the Sanitary Commissioner,
Bengal, for information.
No. 2715S.
COPY of the above Resolution, with a copy of the returns, forwarded to
the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal, for information.
Circular No. 21S.
COPY of the above Resolution, with a copy of the returns, forwarded to all
Commissioners of Divisions for information.
By order of the Licutenant-Governor of Bengal,
H. C. WOODMAN,
Under-Secy. to the Govt. of Bengal.
CALCUTTA,
The 2nd September 1901.
B. S. Press—3358C—1,174—9-9-1901.—E. D.S. & W. H. McG.