( 12 )
unsuccessful, and the result of the experiments with animal lymph indicates the
necessity of abolishing all calf lymph depôts wherever the supervision and control of
operations are indifferent. The percentage of successful operations with calf lymph,
to total successful primary vaccinations in the 2nd circle, was six only.
In the 3rd circle, two calf lymph depôts were maintained during the season. One
at Allahabad and the other at Lalitpur. Animal lymph was used in only 2.21 per
cent. of the total number vaccinated in the 3rd circle and the best results were
obtained from fresh lymph direct from the calf, 87.12 per cent. of the cases operated
on in this way proving successful. The Allahabad calf lymph depôt was very
efficiently managed by Dr. McConaghey, Civil Surgeon and Superintendent of
Vaccination under the Vaccination Act. There were 5,713 successful primary vacci-
nations, and 44 successful revaccinations with calf lymph, at the Allahabad Depôt
during the season; and these results are due to the intelligent interest in the
operations and care taken by the Civil Surgeon, and his subordinates throughout the
season. At the Lalitpur Depôt, 812 primary vaccinations were performed with
animal lymph, and the proportion of successful to the total number vaccinated was 93.
The transmission of animal lymph
to the interior of districts.
26. The transmission of animal lymph into the interior of districts can be readily
effected in the form of lanoline vaccine paste, pro-
perly stored and transmitted in sterilized tubes.
Encouragement was given to the carrying on of
operations in the interior of districts by calf lymph so transmitted, but the results
were ineffective from want of intelligent interest and care. It is hoped that during
the coming season the proper collection of calf lymph, the careful preparation of
lanoline vaccine paste, and its transmission by post and otherwise in sterilized tubes
on strictly antiseptic principles, will be accomplished by the Deputy Sanitary Commis-
sioner of the 2nd Circle, where the extension of operations in some districts would be
greatly facilitated by the use of preserved lymph, especially in localities where parents
greatly object to the practice of taking lymph from the arms of their children.
Arm-to-arm system of vaccination the
safest and most effective in India, as in
England.
27. There is reason to believe, however, that "the extension of the use of pre-
served lymph, as opposed to fresh lymph derived
in the arm-to-arm system would lessen the amount
of protection against small-pox which is at present
afforded by vaccination," and while it is desirable to promote vaccination by preserved
lymph in places and among communities where prejudice is persistent and strong,
there is no doubt that vaccination by fresh lymph from arm-to-arm is the safest and
best system of operation and affords the maximum protection against small-pox. Ope-
rations with calf lymph, direct or with preserved animal vaccine, require the supervision
of experts, and strict veterinary inspections and examination of the animals operated
on are alsolutely necessary.
Relative position of cicatrices indicat-
ing nature of lymph used.
28. By a slight difference in the relative position of the vaccination cicatrices
it should be readily determined whether humanized,
calf or preserved lymph has beeen used in the
operation.
Vaccination and small-pox.
29. The number of fatalities from small-pox in the North-Western Provinces
and Oudh in 1892 was 7,709, and the death-rate
from this cause was only .16, the lowest ratio of
mortality from this cause on record. The retardation of epidemic small-pox was
noticed in previous reports, and it is satisfactory to be able to record a marked decline
in the mortality from this loathsome and preventable disease. The average annual
deaths per million from small-pox in London before the introduction of vaccination
ranged from 5,020 to 4,170, and after the introduction of vaccination and the increase
in successful vaccinations the average mortality fell from 2,040 in 1801-10 to four only
in 1886-88.