( 2 )

7.I am glad to observe that the disparity in the sexes is
again less, and that it is now probably pretty correct in general,
but it is very much too high in Aden and Sindh.

8.The percentages of castes differ from the census, but this
is reported to be due to the method of registering the low caste
Hindus. As there is, Dr. Pinkerton thinks, some inclination on
the part of high caste Hindu vaccinators to avoid contact with
the Sudras, it is considered the vaccination columns for castes are
very suitable for the purpose of preventing them being left unpro-
tected. It is shown that the Musalmans accept vaccination more
freely than Hindus, and this is in accord with the general experience
of the Department; but the city of Bombay forms a Striking contrast
to this almost universal rule.

9.One of the best signs of progress in this report is the fact
of there having been 294,841 infantile vaccinations, which is an in-
crease of 55,098 over the preceding year. Since the re-organization of
1871 these have increased by one hundred thousand, and in this
report they stand at 43.9 per cent. on the total number of persons
operated on. This is a very high percentage for itinerant vac-
cinators to reach. I note that the infantile vaccinations are
again highest in the Presidency Circle and lowest in the Southern
Circle of all British Circles; but I am pleased to see that the Southern
Circle, though still the lowest, is 6 per cent. higher than in the last
report.

10. There were 635,254 primary vaccinations, and in them the
successful was 96.4 per cent., which is 1.6 higher than in the
preceding year. It was highest in Sindh, and lowest in the Presi-
dency Circle of all British Circles; but the lowest is only 3.2 less than
the highest. This is considered a very satisfactory rate of success
for an itinerating establishment, such as ours is, to reach. The
re-vaccinations numbered 60,807 ; of these 48,504 were in the Sindh
Circle, and of the total 45,618 were successful, or a percentage of 80 .8.
This is 15.1 higher than in the previous year. The percentage in the
army returns, however, was 44.6, and it is considered that the army
rate is probably, the Superintendent General considers, the most
correctly noted.

11. On our population of over twenty-five millions, as shown
by the census, Dr. Pinkerton calculates that, with a birth-rate of
fully 40 per mille, there might be about 850,000 persons primarily
vaccinated per annum, after writing off 18 per cent. of the births
for still-born, deaths, those having small-pox and those escaping
the vaccinators. On this calculation, the Department vaccinated
eight-tenths of the available children last year. This must be
viewed with much satisfaction, and I fully endorse the words of the