( 3 )
to 1,269,037 in 1898-99. In these comparisons the pay of the Deputy Sanitary
Commissioners and their offices is excluded, for the reason that these payments vary
with the seniority of these officers, and both the Deputy Sanitary Commissioners and
their offices are very largely employed on work in connection with sanitation.
General operations.
8. The following table shows the comparative results during the three years
under review :—
Total number of persons vaccinated
Total number of successful primary vaccinations
Average number of persons vaccinated by each vaccinator
Total number of persons successfully vaccinated per 1,000 of
population
...
...
...
...
...
Total number of successful re vaccinations
Percentage of success in primary vaccinations in which result
was known
...
...
...
...
...
1896-97.
1,527,308
1,308,941
1,739
28.87
52,421
94.65
1897-98.
1,384,660
1,182,395
1,599
25.97
41,934
93.74
1898-99.
1,398,684
1,227,261
1,598
26.92
41,776
94.96
It will be seen that there was a considerable fall in the number of operations
performed in 1897-98 as compared with 1896-97 ; the reasons were:—
(1) the low birth-rate in 1897 ;
(2) the reduced condition of children owing to famine, which rendered them
unfit for operation ;
(3) the deputation of a considerable number of vaccinators on plague duty.
On the other hand, small-pox was prevalent in the summer months of 1896 and
1897, and operations were continued in these months; otherwise the decrease owing
to the above causes would have been even still larger.
In the year 1898-99 there has been an increase of 14,024 operations,
and a more satisfactory increase of 44,708 successful cases as compared with the
previous year. This increase would have been marked if vaccine operations
during 1897 had not been carried on into the hot weather and rains, owing
to the presence of small-pox in the Provinces; whereas in 1898 operations
ceased at the usual date, March 31st. In both years the employment of a consider-
able number of experienced vaccinators on duties in connection with plague-preven-
tion was, in my opinion, the chief cause in the decrease in results obtained as
compared with 1896-97. The winning of the confidence of the people is frequently
a slow matter ; and if vaccination is to proceed with as little friction as possible, the
vaccinator must obtain countenance from all persons having authority or influence
in the circle under his charge. For this reason the appointment of new and inexperi-
enced men to many charges, to replace experienced vaccinators removed to plague
duties, was bitterly complained of by many Assistant Superintendents of Vaccination;
moreover, the duties of the vaccinators placed on plague prevention required them
to be selected for the possession of special tact and weight of manner, a due regard
being also paid to a certain degree of age, with the result that not infrequently a
district was partially stripped of its best vaccinators. Vaccinators are also being
more largely employed on minor sanitary duties in connection with fairs.
Reviewing the districts in which decreases have occurred, in addition to the
reasons above stated for a diminution of work, the following are adduced by the
District Superintendents of Vaccination concerned : in Bareilly only four, instead
of six, Court of Wards vaccinators were employed on account of want of funds; in
Aligarh an extra vaccinator who performed 1,676 operations last year was not re-
engaged this year on account of difficulty experienced in collecting subscriptions ; in
Allahabad no vaccinators were appointed for the first three months of the season by
the Court of Wards; in Gonda the permanent vaccinators are largely supplemented
by extra men whose work is indifferent, and two vaccinators less than last year
were employed; in Hardoi, although there was a decrease in the number of
operations, the vaccinators worked well and the number of children protected is
large; in Sítapur vaccination has been very thorough in the past, and there is a
decrease this year, although the number of children protected per 1,000 is very