12
not have been less than 472 in Tálukas Ghansor and1 Gondí I based my calculations on
the following ascertained facts:—In some villages the number of deaths amounted to
16, a very general number was 3 to 7, and in no village of any size did I hear that all had es-
caped; I take therefore an average of 4 deaths per village for Ghansor and 2 for Gondí, which
would give results as follows:—
In Ghansor there are 80 villages 80 X 4=320
In Gondí
there are 76 villages
76 x 2=152
= 320 +152=472.
Thus in two ilákas alone the deaths I feel certain were little short of 500; again, on the western
border, or that adjoining Chhindwárá, in three villages I visited the deaths amounted to
40, and as small-pox was pretty general all over the district, I fear 1,000 scarcely represents
the total mortality; of the suffering and disfigurement of those who recovered it is unnecessary
I should speak.
In a return I obiained from the Police the number of cases of small-pox for the year
1870 for the entire district is given at 1,094, and the deaths 176. In case an error may have
crept into the Statement, I returned it, suggesting this, and stating that I was of opinion the
deaths amounted to a higher figure; the District Superintendent replied "the returns for
1870 are certainly correct, being 176 ."* Thus registration of deaths, as far as this disease at
all events is concerned, is decidedly defective, and it is not improbable that the same is true
of other diseases.
Some curious instances of villages escaping to a great measure whilst those adjoining
suffered severely came to my notice, I will give one instance here : the village of Dunde-
wara, containing over 700 souls, situated about one inile distant from the main road to Kat-
angi, suffered very severely, so much so that only 16 children could be produced for vaccina-
tion who had not had small-pox; whilst the next village of Umarlà, of 600 inhabitants, and
only about half a mile off, and in constant communication with the former, was comparatively
free, and 75 children were vaccinated. I would mention other instances of this nature, but one
will, I dare say, suffice.
Again I could point to villages off the lines of communication and holding little inter-
course with the outer world that escaped almost altogether; here again one instance will
suffice the village of Chuí, though situated in the Ghansor iláka, and once of fair size, has.
lately fallen into disrepair, land is out of cultivation, the houses are falling to ruin, respectable
inhabitants there are none, very poor Gonds supply their place, it is owned, I believe, by a
Baniá, and altogether it presents a most desolate appearance, the few inhabitants that remain
seldom go beyond the precincts of their fields except when their few wants call them to the
nearest bázár. On the day I examined this village the same sad tale was told me in all the
others I had visited,—" the disease was very severe (bará zor) and the list of deaths melan-
choly." I concluded that the same would greet me here, I was however agreeably surprised to find
that 19, or nearly every child. in the village. had been successfully vaccinated, the simple
inhabitants had no communication with the outer world.
Other instances of a somewhat similar nature were brought to my notice, but it is scarcely
necessary here to give further details.
The total number vaccinated from November to March inclusive was 11,318 primary,
and 216 secondary ; of the former 9,403 were successful and 184 of the latter, this gives an
average of 83 per cent, or 5 per cent less than the results of the vaccine establishment during
the season 1869-70.
The total cost, consisting of pay of establishment and travelling allowance for Civil
Surgeon amounted to Rs. 1,040 to end of March, or annas one and pies eight per successful
case ; in addition to this, tents cost, including carriage, Rs. 620-14-8, but as they, if properly
cared for, should last ten years we may add one-tenth of their cost to the amount above, this
would make the total expenditure Rs. 1,102-1-5, or annas one and pies ten per successful case.
The population of the Seoní Tahsíl is 167,308, this Would give an average of 47 success-
ful cases per 1,000.
In Katangí the population is 133,916, the average there would be 12, and taking both
together the average would be 31 successful cases per 1,000 of the people.
The Superintendent of Police was in error here,— the number of deaths from small-pox for the
whole district entered in the monthly returns amounted to 504.