Distribution of Leprosy. 131
is, the number of people who according to some anti-vaccina-
tionists have run the risk of acquiring such diseases as syphilis
or leprosy.
It appears that during the year 1889-90 of 199,638,558
individuals only 2.9 per cent. were vaccinated, and this ratio
has never been exceeded since the institution of vaccination.
Were the operation generally practised, this ratio should be
much higher, considering that vaccination is still in its infancy
in India.
Of the six millions vaccinated in India during 1889-1890
about five millions were infants. The number of vaccinations
annually performed has gradually increased from two millions
in 1871-1872 to six millions in 1889-1890, and the ratio ob-
tained for the latter period is the highest yet reached. Ever
since the official introduction of vaccination into India, chil-
dren under six years of age have supplied the greatest number
to the vaccinators. Now the death-rate of infants is extremely
high and has always been so. Considering, therefore, that
since the institution of vaccination never more than three per
cent. of the total population have been operated upon during
any one year, that of this number more than 75 per cent. are
always infants, and that the mortality among the latter is very
high, it is by no means improbable that at the present time
less than ten per cent. of the total population in India are
actually vaccinated.
The following statement will also show to what a small
extent vaccination is as yet practised in India. "In England
and Wales of 886,198 births returned to the Board by the
several vaccination officers, as registered during the year 1887,
the number which at the time the return was made had been
registered as successfully vaccinated was 733,986, or 82·8
per cent. of the whole, and if revaccinations are included,
this percentage rises to 91·9 "48 In India, on the other
(48) Nineteenth Annual Report of the Local Government Board. Supplement.
Appendix A., No. 1, page 1.
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