GENERAL REPORT.                                                      iii

amounts to 2,040,000. The total number of vaccinations does not quite reach
one-third of this number.

Number of opera-
tions per vaccina-
tor.

                                STATEMENT No. III.

5. Number of Operations performed by each vaccinator.—The results of
1872-73 are also satis-
factory as showing that,
though there was a
larger agency at work,
the amount of work
done by each man was
greater than in 1871-72.
Every circle except
Darjeeling exhibits some
improvement in this res-
pect. The figure of me-
rit of dispensary vaccin-
ation is low and not
very exact, because the work of the inoculators and of dispensary establishments
has been included. The higher figures shown by the circles are exceedingly
satisfactory, as indicating not so much an advance in industry and energy on the
part of the vaccinators, as an increasing facility in accomplishing work and fewer
obstacles to be overcome. The more concentrated and systematic method of
working which was pursued, and the comparative absence of disturbances
caused by outbreaks of small-pox, have also no doubt aided in producing
the result. It should be noted that the 24 apprentices have not been taken
into account in calculating the figure assigned to the Metropolitan circles.

Ratio of success

High rate of success
attained in Cal-
cutta and by the
Metropolitan and
Eastern Bengal
circles

Results of dispen-
sary vaccination
uncertain.

6. Number of successful Operations.—These are shewn in detail in table
A, and the ratios of success in primary and secondary operations are noted in
statement No. II in contrast with those of 1871-72. On the whole, a higher
rate of successful results has been gained than in previous years, and the results
obtained in the circles have uniformly exceeded those of the preceding season.
The ratios shown by Calcutta, the Metropolitan circles, and the Eastern
Bengal circle leave nothing to be desired. They are due to the system of arm-
to-arm vaccination being adopted, and to the scrupulous care with which the
vaccine disease is propagated. The exercise of this care, and the brilliant
results obtained thereby are entirely due to the excellent system of vaccination
initiated by Dr. Charles in Calcutta. It is very fortunate indeed that so high
a standard of success, betokening thoroughly sound work, has been established
in the metropolis and maintained by the circles organised on a similar system,
and whose establishments are, to a great extent, derived from the metropolitan
staff. Better results have never been attained in any part of the world, and
these ratios constitute a standard to which vaccination throughout the province
must strive to attain. The standard can only be honestly reached by the
utmost attention to the quality of the work and the most scrupulous care in its
performance and through the existence of the most favorable circumstances. The
Darjeeling, Ranchee and Sonthal Pergunnahs establishments have improved
considerably ; but dispensary vaccination still shows a very low figure, and it
is pretty certain that even this is not reliable. Many inoculators have returned
all their cases as successful. Unless they have omitted the unsuccessful cases,
it is quite certain that their returns must be wrong. The ratio of success of
dispensary vaccination must therefore be taken as merely an approximation.
In some instances the figure is thoroughly reliable, when the work has been pro-
perly looked after and tested. These instances will be specified in the detailed
abstracts of reports given below. In other cases no result has been returned.
Taking the rate deduced from the figures actually rendered as approximately
true—and it is worthy of note that it differs very little from that of the previous
year—the total number of persons successfully vaccinated may be put down
at 645,437 against 345,996 in 1871-72. This gives an increase of 299,441 or
86.5 per cent.