4
There is a large community of Marwarees in the town,—wealthy men,
engaged in the cotton trade. The chief man amongst them, Buldeo by name, is a
leading and influential member of the Municipal Committee; and he, having a
young child whom he refused to have vaccinated, completely stopped the work
amongst the more respectable people of the town.
Captain Ricketts was fortunately present at the time of my visit, and, at
my request, kindly explained to the assembled people, that on the outbreak of
small-pox with any severity, the local bazar would have to be closed and arrange-
ments made to prevent the spreading of the disease.
On the next day, by appointment, I met the chief men at Buldeo's house,
and having vaccinated his child and the children of most of the Marwarees in
the town, was quite mobbed for some hours, and did not leave the bazar till I had
vaccinated 407,—a good illustration, if any were wanting, of the value of the ar-
rangements as to the temporary closing of infected bazars, as well as of the influ-
ence of example given by the leading men of a community. There was no question
of religion raised, Brahmins were as freely brought as outcasts, so called.
20. On February 3rd I left for the Berars, two of the Superintendents
having orders to move their men into the Baitool district, as soon as they had
finished work in their several Sub-divisions.
21. From Hingunghat Tehseel two men were ordered early in January
to extend their operations across the border into the Chanda district, vaccin-
ating in the villages near the Wurdah and Nagpore districts ; and in February
the Superintendent was directed to take his whole division into Chanda, the
local Vaccinators not being able to make head against the epidemic of small-pox
which was raging all over the district.
22. Seventeen men only could be sent to Baitool therefore; but with the
assistance of the Deputy Commissioner, Captain Ducat, and the Tehseel authori-
ties, these were able to make fair progress.
23. The difficulties were almost identical with those met with in the Wur-
dah districts. Above the ghats there are a number of Gonds and Korkoos
particularly timid and superstitious, retreating from their villages into the jun-
gles on the very approach of a Vaccinator. It requires a great deal of tact to
overcome their fears, and it is only on the recommendation of the Malgoozars
of their villages that they can be induced to bring forward their children, until
they have seen the trifling nature of the operation, and have been persuaded of
its efficacy; but afterwards their pleasure at the opportunity of guarding
against a disease that they so much dread, is in proportion to their previous
timidity.
24. Men had been going about in the district representing themselves as
Government Vaccinators, and extracting bribes for not vaccinating, describing
the operation in as unfavourable terms as possible. Three men were imprisoned
by the Deputy Commissioner on this account, and a Putwarree was subsequently
punished for having forged and sold false certificates in the name of a Vaccinator,
to the effect that certain children had been successfully vaccinated. Against
such influences, added to the common feeling of opposition, my men had great
difficulty in making way.
25. On December 22nd, I received a report that small-pox had made its
appearance at Tekaree near the Zillah station. Mr. Price, the Civil Medical
Officer, with the assistance of the Municipal Vaccinators whom he had entertained