Fourth Annual Report on the Presidency Vaccine Department, by SURGEON T. EDMONDSTON
           CHARLES, M.D., M.R.C.P., LONDON, Superintendent-General of Vaccination.

                                              INDEX.

Conduct of Super-
intendents.

1. Submission.—When again called on to submit the annual report on
the subject of vaccination in Calcutta and its Suburbs, I would give a very
prominent place to the zealous and efficient manner in which the Superinten-
dents of Vaccination have discharged their duties. Their work, when judged
of by the standard of figured statements, will in the sequel be shown to have
been first class, and when put to the crucial test of preserving a large and
exceptionally difficult community from small-pox, will be proved to have been
remarkably successful. On these grounds alone it would have been my duty
to bring forward the names of Baboos Bhoobun Mohun Mitter, Kally Dass
Bose, and Kassy Chunder Dutt, as deserving servants of the Government.
Much besides this, however, influences me in directing attention to the way in
which these Superintendents have worked. Being brought every week in
contact with them in exercising a general control over their work, I have had
occasion frequently to notice their painstaking industry, patience, and thought-
ful care, in the exercise of laborious and disheartening functions, in which there
is nothing attractive to stimulate them under difficulties, and a stern sense of
duty alone makes them respond to the heavy calls for exertion made upon them.

Numbers vaccinat-
ed.

2. Numbers vaccinated during the year.—On the whole I have every cause
to be satisfied with the outturn of work during the year, though there has
been a falling off of 533 among the permanent residents during the year 1871-72
as compared with the previous year.

Experimental re-
duction of estab-
lishment

Result

Exclusive of cases of re-vaccination and cases in which the result has not
been ascertained, 4,408 persons were vaccinated within the limits of the Calcutta
municipality, as compared with 4,898 last year; the corresponding numbers
under the suburban municipality being 6,796, against 6,839 in 1870-71. The
deficient number vaccinated in the north division has throughout the whole
season been recognised as the cause of the falling off. Persistent attempts
were made during the entire season to try and obviate this, but failed. It has
many times formed the subject of inquiry, but no very definite conclusion has
been arrived at. The Superintendent seems to think he has been less success-
ful than he was last year, owing to his finding smaller numbers in houses where
there had been an accumulation of children previously. In connection with the
subject, it ought to be mentioned that in the north division one vaccinator less
was employed in the town than there was last year. The reduction was made
as an experimental measure, to try and raise the average of work done by the
others. The desired effect has not been produced, and the average of work
done per man has fallen still lower.

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