11

Vaccination.

   32.Vaccination. —Vaccination has been efficiently carried out in the Native
Army, and as far as possible among the families and followers. In the Andamans
vaccination seems not to be so successful, owing to the tendency exhibited by
vaccination sores to take on ulcerative action.

General
remarks and
conclusion.

   33.General remarks and conclusion.— In a year marked, more especially towards
its termination, by widespread and fatal epidemics of cholera and of small-pox,
it is satisfactory to record how largely the native army has escaped these fell
diseases. In a force of upwards of 30,000 men, cholera attacked. 103, of whom 47
died in and 10 out of hospital, making a total of 57 casualties. This fact proves
what sanitation, even when confessedly imperfect, can do towards warding off the
attacks of that most fatal disease. What efficient vaccination has done to protect
the army from small-pox may be estimated from the fact, that 84 sepoys were
attacked with the disease in its modified and unmodified forms in 1876, and that
the mortality return aggregates one casualty. There are many preventable
diseases which sanitation has yet to grapple with. The success of the past is the
best omen for the future. The truth which sanitary science loudly proclaims is
not a recondite one; in the words of an able administrative officer it is simply this,
" be clean and live, be dirty and die."

   In conclusion I have to report that the duties of administrative and of executive
medical officers, as well as of medical subordinates, have been conducted to my entire
satisfaction.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

GEO. SMITH, M.D.,
Surgeon-General, Indian Medical Department.