7
lymph, and their first operations were successful. From the successful cases
at Sagar vaccine crusts were supplied to Hospital Assistants at Banda, Shah-
garh, and Malthon. At the last named branch nothing appears to have
been attempted; at all the other branches a few were operated upon, but
without the success that might have been expected to follow arm to arm vacci-
nation properly carried out. The number vaccinated in the city and within a
radius of 5 miles, exceeds that of last year, but there is a great falling off at
Kurai. The old vaccinator resigned at an inopportune time, and subsequently
his successor was removed to the neighbourhood of Sagar, as it was found practi-
cally impossible for the Regimental Surgeon, who has also charge of the Civil
Medical duties, to inspect the work at some distance from head-quarters.
The percentage of successful cases, 81, shows an improvement on last year, but
is still much below what it should be.
It would seem undesirable to increase the number of Vaccinators in this
district without arrangements being made for efficient supervision.
DAMOH.—Two vaccinators were employed in this district,—one at head-
quarters and one at Hatta. English lymph was received at the end of October
and vaccination successfully commenced at Hatta. At the beginning of No-
vember the vaccine disease was started at Damoh from Nagpur lymph. During
the season 1,131 were operated upon, with a percentage of 72.8 of success. This is
low, but the Civil Surgeon complains of opposition on the part of the mothers, even
when the fathers consent, and of their tampering with the vesicles when they ap-
pear, rendering the results doubtful. Next to Damoh itself, the largest number
vaccinated was at Hindoria, the Chief Constable of the place exerting himself to
overcome by persuasion the prejudices of the people. Chicken-pox was pre-
valent all over the district, and some children operated upon unsuccessfully for
cow-pox, subsequently sickened from the former disease, and although they
recovered, the parents and neighbours ascribed the attack to the vaccine opera-
tions that had been performed.
The Damoh Vaccinator was found to be unpopular, and his returns untrust
worthy ; his services have been dispensed with. The Hatta Vaccinator, Mojee, is
well spoken of.
JABALPUR.—The number of Vaccinators sanctioned for the City is 7,—1
paid by the Municipality and 6 from Local Funds.
The Baids refused to act this year, and only one man was employed; the
operations fell from 5,196 to 2,675. One vaccinator was engaged in connection
with each of the branch dispensaries. The total number operated upon was
7,160, with a percentage of 74.76 of primary operations and 64.16 as secondary
operations on prisoners in jail. In the Sehora Circle the percentage of success
was very low, 60.36, and both Hospital Assistant and Vaccinator had to be re-
monstrated with by the Civil Surgeon. There was much failure in November,
the weather was unseasonably warm and variable, and the vaccine lymph showed
a tendency to deteriorate ; many renewals of supply were called for, especially in
the Patan Circle. The Civil Surgeon reports that the Hospital Assistants in
the interior have been very apathetic, and the falling off at Murwara and Bijera-
ghogarh is particularly noticeable. The Hospital Assistants of Jabalpur, Sehora,
and Murwara complained that the Tahsildars disregarded their applications for
assistance. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Girdlestone, and the Assistants,
Messrs. Goodridge and Nedham, in charge of Sub-divisions, took great interest
in the work, especially the first named ; but Dr. Rice reports that the Tahsildars
appear to have forgotten the practice of the two preceding years, when they were
instructed by the District Officers to use every reasonable endeavour to induce
the people to have their children vaccinated. Dr. Rice adds that their half
heartedness cannot but have an unfavourable influence on the people. The
children of the Sowcars, Banias, and landowners of the City are still unpro-
tected.