( 4 )

It will be seen from this statement that the total number of operations
performed in the province during the year 1898-99 was 2,147,452, against
2,293,655 and 2,319,536 during 1896-97 and 1897-98, respectively. This
decrease is due chiefly to the plague inoculation scare and to the introduction
of the six-puncture system of vaccination. The extra two points of vaccination
were looked upon by the ignorant masses of the people as in some way con-
nected with plague inoculation, and this retarded the progress of vaccination
and accounts for the smaller number of operations performed during the past
year. Notwithstanding this decrease, however, the average of the triennial
period under review, shows, with an average of 184 additional vaccinators, an
increase of 155,053 operations as compared with 1893-96.

In rural areas, with an average increase of 220 vaccinators, there was an
increase of 159,426 operations during the three years 1896-99 as compared
with the previous three years 1893-96.

In municipalities there was an average decrease of 32 vaccinators, but
an increase of 9,232 operations during the period under review as compared
with the previous triennial period.

In Calcutta there was a decrease of four vaccinators and of 12,704 operations
during the period under review, the larger number of vaccinations performed
during the triennial period 1893-96 being due chiefly to the small-pox epidemic
of 1894-95. In the Animal Vaccination Depôt, Calcutta, also, there was a
decrease of 901 operations.

Thirty-three out of the 49 districts (including the Tributary States of
Orissa and the Political States of Chota Nagpur) show an increase of operations,
which is satisfactory. The following 16 districts show a decrease:—

As regards Hooghly, Howrah and Palamau, the decrease is small and does
not call for any special remarks. The following explanations have been
furnished by the Civil Surgeons of other districts of the decrease in their
respective districts:—

24-Parganas.—Decrease due to (a) difficulty in realizing fees, (b) plague
scare of 1898, and (c) the employment of fewer vaccinators, good men not
being willing to accept service on account of the difficulty in realizing their
fees.

Bogra.—In 1896-97, the decrease is said to have been due to the reluctance
of the people to pay the vaccination fees on account of the prevailing famine.
In 1898-99 it is ascribed to floods in the eastern part of the district, where much
vaccination could not be done.

Pabna.—Decrease chiefly due to the falling off of operations in 1896-97,
owing to the prevalence of malarial fever, which was specially fatal to children
under five years.

Dacca.—In 1897-98, the decrease was ascribed to—

(a)  Dearness of food-grains and the consequent reluctance of the people
to pay the vaccination fees.

(b)  A more extensive field of work among the Ferazi Muhammadans
during the year 1896-97, when whole villages were vaccinated,
which left fewer subjects for vaccination.

(c)  Transfer of some villages to the Faridpur district.