Statistics of inoculations with Haffkine's anti-plague vaccine, 1897-1900 : compiled from records in the Plague Department of the Secretariat and the Plague Research Laboratory, Bombay / by W. B. Bannerman.

  • Bannerman, W. B. (William Burney), 1858-
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Statistics of inoculations with Haffkine's anti-plague vaccine, 1897-1900 : compiled from records in the Plague Department of the Secretariat and the Plague Research Laboratory, Bombay / by W. B. Bannerman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Date. Number of Inoculated present. Plague Attacks. Plague Deaths. Number of Uninoculated present. Plague Attacks. Plague Deaths. 28th May 1900. • • • 1,534 179 29th ,, 1.535 1.536 • •• 175 ... ... 30th „ ... 174 • . • 31st „ 1,539 • •• 170 1 . . • 1st June 1,553 . . • 151 ... • • . 2nd „ , 1,553 • • • 151 ... 1 Total • • • ... 23 8 ... 83 65 Daily average ... 1,190 ... 982 ... ... The above figures were obtained in the following way : The number in- oculated day by day is taken from the inoculation register which was carefully kept from the beginning, and in which was entered the name, age, sex, caste, occupation, residence, date of inoculation, number of brew, and dose administered, nature of reaction resulting, and subsequently, date and result of attack if such occurred. The number of the uninoculated was got from a house-to-house visitation, conducted between the 15th and 24th July, just a month after the epidemic had ceased, and when therefore events were still fresh in the minds of the people, and at the same time the fear of removal was no longer dreaded by them. This census was carried out by Assistant Surgeon Mehta, with the help of Mr. Salem Harun, a prominent member of the Jewish community, and who knew personally most of its members. As the epidemic was over, and the fears of the people quieted by the presence and assurances of one of their number in whom they could trust, it is probable that the census represents the actual course of events with great accuracy. The following information was obtained for each house :—House number ; name, age, sex of each of the inhabitants ; whether in- oculated or not, whether attacked by plague or not, date of attack ; recovery or death, whether remained at home, removed to camp, or went out of Aden, with date ; and deaths from all causes. The result of this enumeration showed that the Jews living in the Crater at the commencement of the epidemic numbered 2,614 ; consisting of 842 males 940 females, and 832 children under 10 years of age. The statements respecting cause of deaths were checked by comparison with the plague hospital register, and the municipal death register. All deaths were certified by a Medical Officer, before any corpse was permitted to be dis- posed of, so that reasonable accuracy is thus secured. The only item remaining unchecked was the plague attacks ending in recovery, which may possibly have been successfully concealed during the epidemic. But as Mr. Mehta had gain- ed the confidence of the people, and was assisted by a gentleman in whom the community fully trusted; and as no penalties could be feared after the epidemic was over; it is probable that very few, if any, such eases escaped enumeration. As a matter of fact 26 such concealed cases, ending in recovery, were discovered during the census operations. In the case of persons who were attacked by, or died from plague, the fact of inoculation or otherwise was always checked by reference to the inoculation register. Prom the above account of the way the in- vestigation was carried out, it must be apparent that great accuracy has been attained, and the figures may be accepted as substantially correct. As in this case inoculation was not carried out on one day, but was gradually pushed on through a lengthened period, it becomes necessary to take an average 'population when comparing the two groups of inoculated and uninoculated.