4
For the Civil Surgeon of Seoni new tents were provided from the Local
funds, and for the Civil Surgeon of Betul tents were also provided; the same
provision was not made for Mr. Price in Chhindwara, and he was therefore not
able to inspect the work so thoroughly as he wished; but even in Seoni the total
cost of the new tents added only one anna to the cost of each operation perform-
ed in the first season, and taking all the three districts the total cost, including
carriage of tents and travelling allowance, amounted to 2 annas and 8 pies; where-
as the average cost of each operation performed by the establishment for the
four previous years was 7 annas and one pie. By providing the Civil Surgeons
with the means of supervising vaccination a larger number of operations have
been performed at a less cost.
14. But besides the work of superintendence of vaccination the Civil Sur-
geons are able to effect much good in their districts by inspecting the sanitary
condition of the towns and villages, and urging on the people the necessity of
greater cleanliness in their villages and of greater care in preserving their water-
supply from pollution. Dr. Barter's report shows how much this is needed in
Seoni, and although Dr. Edis does not refer to the subject in his report, I am
well aware that he took every opportunity of becoming acquainted with the
state of the towns and villages that he visited when inspecting the work of the
vaccinators. I believe I may say that there are very few Civil Surgeons who
would not be glad to undertake district work in the cold weather if they were
provided with the means of doing so, and there can be little doubt that they
would effect more good in camp than by remaining in the Sadar station, where
they are often for weeks together the only European present.
15. With regard to Mr. Price's report on the work in Chhindwara, I would
draw particular attention to paras. 8, 9 and 10, in which he describes his system of
working, and it seems to me by far the best for effecting arm to arm vaccination,
as well as for inspecting the children vaccinated.
16. Mr. Price mentions with commendation the Tahsildar of Chhindwara,
Imrit Rao, who appears to have taken very great interest in the work and to have
rendered great assistance.
In the Chhindwara district a peon or chaprasi was attached to each vaccinator,
and I observe in a paper lately forwarded to me by the Superintendent General
of Vaccination in Bombay, that one peon is allowed for each Vaccinator and Native
Superintendent. Without assistance of this kind it is almost impossible to collect
the children so as to carry on " arm to arm" vaccination. Two peons also should
be allowed to each Civil Surgeon during the working season.
Vaccination in other Districts.
17. In the Sagar district two vaccinators were employed, and by these men
and by the Native Doctors in charge of the Dispensaries, 8,325 operations were
performed; of which 5,134 or 67 per cent were returned as successful. These
numbers are very large, but there is no guarantee that the returns are correct.
The Civil Medical duties of Sagar are performed by an Officer holding a Military
charge in the Cantonment, and he is unable to leave the station for the work of
superintending vaccination in the district; while the above arrangement for the
discharge of the Civil Medical duties of Sagar continues, it will be better to con-
fine vaccination to the population of the town and cantonment. In the epidemic
of 1868-69 the mortality from small-pox in the town and cantonment of Sagar
amounted to nearly 7 per 1,000 of the population.
18. In the district of Damoh two vaccinators were employed, and 1,481 opera-
tions were performed, of which 990 or 70 per cent were successful. The people