xii                                          REPORT.

lethal practice after providing a sufficient agency to accomplish thoroughly the
protection of the people by means of its innocent substitute, persevering efforts
will in time overcome all prejudice ; and meantime one great cause of small-pox
will have been removed; and in the event of an outbreak of this disease among
the unprotected, vaccination is still of greater use in limiting and stamping it
out than inoculation could possibly be. I believe that partial vaccination is
infinitely preferable to partial inoculation, which must be simultaneous and
universal to deprive it of serious indirect consequences to the community, over
and above its direct perils.

Sex of the vaccin-
ated.

                          STATEMENT No. IV.

40. Sex of the vaccinated.—The returns appended to this report show that of
340,281 vaccinations re-
garding which the sex of
the subject was noted,
184,614 were males and
155,667 females, or 54.2
and 45.8 per cent. The
percentages in previous
years were 1870-71,54.3
and 45.7, and 1869-70,
54.3 and 45.7. The
similarity of the results
of the three years is very striking. The statement on the margin gives the
percentages for different circles. The proportion of females is to a certain
extent a measure of the success of vaccination. The majority of the vaccinated
were males, except in the Sonthal Pergunnahs, and the disproportion of the
sexes is greater in dispensary vaccination. This subject might with advantage
be discussed by Superintendents who can bring actual experience to bear upon
figured statements.

Caste of the vaccin-
ated

                                    STATEMENT No. V.

41. Caste of the vaccinated.—This is also an interesting question, and
might with advantage
form a section of the
written reports. It
would be particularly
interesting if high and
low castes could be
separated in the returns.
The percentages result-
ing from the vaccinations
registered during the
season are reproduced
on the margin. The Sonthalis and Coles constitute the " other castes" of the
Sonthal Pergunnahs and Ranchi. The preponderance of Mussulmans in the
Darjeeling circle is remarkable.

Age of the vaccin-
ated.

                            STATEMENT No. VI.

42. Age of the vaccinated.—This is a still more important matter than
either sex or caste. The
percentages of vaccin-
ations under and over
one year were 13 and
87, against 12.5 and
87.5 in 1870-71, and 9.2
and 90.8 in 1869-70.
These figures show some
progress in the right
direction. From the
statement on the margin it would appear that dispensary vaccination, or a
stationary vaccinator, is most successful in reaching the young. Calcutta comes
next, then Ranchi. The ratios of the Metropolitan and Darjeeeling circles
are wonderfully similar, and the Sonthal Pergunnah vaccination gives a higher