7
on Rupees 25 a month, were employed; 5,241 operations performed, of which 4,413
are returned as successful. The Civil Surgeon inspected the work in a few of the
villages, and he believes the returns have been correctly rendered. The vaccina-
tors met with much opposition from the inhabitants, and the Native Superinten-
dent had not sufficient influence with the people to overcome their prejudices.
Efforts should be made to keep up the work commenced in the same circle, but
two good vaccinators should be sufficient.
31. In the Bilaspur district two vaccinators were employed; 1,066 opera-
tions were performed, of which 1,006 are returned as successful. The Civil Me-
dical Officer states that he visited nearly all the villages in which vaccination was
conducted, and that he is perfectly satisfied that the cases marked as successful
were really so.
32. In Sambalpur during the three previous seasons a special establishment
of one Native Superintendent and nine vaccinators had been provided, and very good
work had been done under Mr. Harrison's supervision. This establishment was
discontinued at the close of the season of 1869-70, and for the following working
season two vaccinators were entertained, their pay being provided from Local funds.
These two vaccinators carried on operations in the part of the district
which had not been brought under vaccination in the previous years. 12,883
operations, of which 94 per cent were successful, appear in the returns; this is
a very large number for two vaccinators but as the people of Sambulpur have of
their own accord given up the practice of inoculation and readily bring their chil-
dren for vaccination, the returns may be correct. Operations were performed in 147
villages, of which 116 were inspected by Mr. Harrison. If no more than two vac-
cinators can be provided for Sambalpur, I think it will be advisable to assign to
each a defined circle containing from 80 to 100 villages within a moderate dis-
tance of the Sadar station, a list being kept of the villages of each circle and a
return made annually of the number of operations performed in each village.
33. From the above review of the work of the season of 1870-71, it is
apparent that the efforts to extend vaccination in the different districts have
achieved a fair amount of success ; but in some districts it has been attempted
to carry on operations over a wider area than could be properly superintended
by the Civil Surgeon. What is required is, that there shall be in every district
a certain defined area so far protected against small-pox that when an epidemic
accession of the scourge supervenes the immunity of the protected circle com-
pared with rest of the district shall be plainly evident; but to ensure success
the work must be carried on under competent supervision, and the area to be
brought under vaccination should not be wider than the Civil Surgeon is able
to supervise; but as I have said before, I believe that with the assistance of relia-
ble Native Superintendents the Civil Surgeons of the majority of the districts
in these Provinces are able and willing to undertake the superintendence of vacci-
nation over a wide circle of their districts, provided that suitable provision is
made for their moving about in camp, and as I have shown with reference to
Seoni, Betul and Chhindwara, the Civil Surgeon moving about in the district
in the cold weather in the work of superintending vaccination and enquiring into
sanitary condition of the people, can effect a great amount of good at a very
little cost.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
S. C. TOWNSEND,
Sanitary Commissioner.