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Deputy Superintendent, Nagpur, writes :—
" I am glad to say that by degrees opposition to vaccination is becoming less
and less."
The Civil Surgeon, Wardha, writes :—
" The opposition to vaccination has been less than in the previous year ; in some of the
large villages, however, and especially those in which oilmen (Thelis) are numerous
the feeling is still strong against vaccination."
Civil Surgeons Chanda, Raipur, Bilaspur and Sambalpur do not remark on
the subject.
Causes which lead to opposition.
52. Assistant Surgeon, Jubbulpore, writes :—
" Superstitious fears not unfrequently govern both the poor and the rich and become
the chief impediment."
Civil Surgeon, Hoshangabad writes:—
" It is unfortunate for the popularity of vaccination that during an epidemic of small-
pox a considerable number of vaccinated children should be attacked even slightly,
and the want of confidence thus engendered is, no doubt, much increased by the
careless way in which some of the work is done, good protection not being afforded.
A further influence in this direction is afforded by the fact that the people classify
under the same head, small-pox, measles and chicken-pox and expect that vaccina-
tion will protect their children from the two latter diseases as well as the first."
" The majority of the people have, I believe, infinitely more faith in religious rites
than in vaccination."
53. In addition to the causes already stated the manners and behaviour of
the vaccinators must be taken into consideration. A great deal depends on the
above in disarming opposition and prejudice and conciliating the people. Igno-
rant and ill-bred vaccinators do much to hinder the progress of the work. It is
now the endeavour to select men who have had education, and whose man-
ners and appearance commend them to the people.
Suggestions for the better understanding of vaccination.
54. Whilst superstition governs the opinions of the people it is hopeless
to expect that vaccination will be welcomed, but their prejudices may be conci-
liated by judicious and considerate treatment. For instance, the practice of
vaccinating the children of low caste parents first should be abandoned in favor
of the plan recommended by Surgeon Major Evers of commencing with the
children of the higher castes; also that of operating upon infants of very tender
age should be given up. It should be generally understood that infants under
3 months should be exempted from the trials consequent on vaccination.
Small-pox and inoculation.
55. The Civil Surgeon Saugor reports that although small-pox was present
in a sporadic form yet in no case was the disease known to occur in persons who
had been efficiently protected by vaccination. Small-pox was present in the Jub-
bulpore district, but from enquiries made by the Civil Surgeon it appears that
measles, of which there was a severe cut break, was reported as small-pox.
At Narsinghpur the Civil Surgeon remarked the same want of accuracy.
In a number of cases the vaccinators reported the cases of supposed small-pox
to be either chicken-pox or measles.
The Civil Surgeon, Hoshangabad, writes :—
"Of the total number of children attacked (3,236) in this district, 1,109 are reported
to have been vaccinated previously, a percentage of 34.14. Two vaccinators who
were sent out reported 46 children as having been vaccinated, out of a total of
490 attacked, or 9.38 per cent only. This is probably nearer the truth, as I think
there can be little donbt that many cases of chicken-pox were reported as small-pox.
I have examined a number of children who suffered from the disease during this
epidemic and found that the great majority had not been protected by vaccina-
tion, whilst in those properly vaccinated, the disease had been of an extremely
mild type."