24
ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
Inspection.
Work.
Inoculation.
Small-pox.
Vaccination
insufficient.
follows:—Four paid by Government attached to the dispensaries at Moorshedahad and
Berhampore respectively, nine men attached to the following dispensaries, and paid by the
municipalities of the different places, Moorshedabad (four), Berhampore (two), Kandi, Azim¬
gunge, and Jungipore (each one), and one man entertained by Rao Jagendro Narain Roy,
the zemindar of Lallgola, and attached to the dispensary of that place. All these men, with
the exception of the four Moorshedabad men, were paid Rs. 10 a month. The Moorshedabad
men only got Rs. 8, and this created discontent. Operations were performed in and around the
several localities named, and the work of the men was directed and supervised by the medical
officers attached to the several dispensaries. Attempts were made to render the Berhampore
and Moorshedabad proceedings systematic and exhaustive by dividing the town into sections.
The Civil Surgeon inspected the vaccinated regularly, and vouches for the quality of the work.
The Assistant Surgeons of the Moorshedabad and Berhampore dispensaries also exerted them-
selves laudably in the cause. The details of work done are given in Table V. The number
of operations fell short of those of 1873-74 by 1,871 cases. This Dr. Shircore attributes
to the decline of small-pox. The people, he says, are more indifferent than hostile to vaccin-
ation. Inoculation is still practised in some parts of the district clandestinely. Small-pox
was very severe in the hot weather of 1874, but declined in the rains; it did not revive in
1875. Extra vaccinators were employed to " stamp out" outbreaks. Their work is not
shown in the returns Dr. Shircore represents that vaccination is still very insufficient for
the requirements of the district, and considers that it ought to be included in one of the
vaccine circles. In this he is supported by the Magistrate.
RAJSHAHYE DIVISION.
Dispensary
vaccination.
All the districts of this division, with the exception of Pubna, are included in the
Darjeeling circle of vaccination, and the vaccination carried on in each of them by the circle
staff has been already detailed. The following notes represent what has been done in
addition by dispensaries and municipalities:—
Dinagepore District.—No dispensary or municipal vaccination performed in this district.
The report submitted by Mr. Webber gives no information.
No municipal or
dispensary
vaccinator in
Maldah
Inoculation.
Small-pox.
Maldah District.—No vaccinator is employed by either dispensary or municipality. The
civil medical officer and his assistants vaccinated a few people in the station and jail.
Vaccination is not popular, and inoculation is rife. Small-pox prevails annually. 268 deaths
occurred in 1874. No success has attended the efforts made to convert inoculators.
Agency.
Inspection.
Inoculation.
Rungpore District.—Dispensary vaccination was only carried on at the head-quarters
station, where two vaccinators were employed. Dr. K. D. Ghose reports that one was paid by
the dispensary, and the other by the municipality, but that latterly he stopped their pay,
and made them charge fees. Work was carried on in one half of the town, and carefully
supervised by the Civil Surgeon, with satisfactory results. Vaccination is not very
acceptable in the district, but in the town of Rungpore there is no hostility manifested. The
practice of inoculation is disappearing, and the sons of ticcadars are taking to agriculture.
Small-pox was not epidemic in the district, but sporadic cases occurred.
Training
inoculators.
Self-supporting
vaccination.
Dr. Grhose has not succeeded in training any inoculators. He points out that vaccination
is never likely to become so popular an occupation as inoculation, because the great secret of
the influence which the inoculator has over the people consists in the severity of the disease
and the alleged need of propitiating Shitolah. If vaccination is to become self-supporting,
he very truly remarks that it is much better to permit well-trained and experienced
vaccinators to practise the art than prejudiced and imperfectly taught inoculators. An effort
is to be made to prevail on the proprietors of dispensaries in the district to attach a vaccinator
to these institutions.
Agency.
Inspection.
Inoculation.
Small-pox.
Bogra District.—Mr. Lyons reports that three vaccinators were employed,—two in the
sudder station, and one at Sherepore, paid from town funds. Their proceedings were super-
vised in the former case by the Civil Surgeon, and in the latter by the Native Doctor in charge
of the dispensary. The people are said to be not averse to vaccination when it is taken
to their doors. Inoculation has disappeared from the town, but is still resorted to at some
places in the interior. Small-pox prevailed in some parts of the district. A return is given,
showing; 132 cases and 6 deaths.
Meagre results in
Pubna.
Inoculation.
Small-pox.
Pubna District.—First Class Hospital Assistant Ameer Khan reports that the dispensary
compounder vaccinates during the cold weather. The lymph received from the Superin-
tendent-General is said to have failed to get up a good vesicle, and to this is attributed the
very small number of vaccinations performed. Inoculation is a current practice. Small-
pox does not appear to have been severe in 1874. Vaccination is extremely backward in
this district.
Municipal
vaccinator.
Inoculation.
Small-pox.
Serajgunge Sub-division.—Third grade Assistant Surgeon Bolanath Pal reports that the
municipality entertain a vaccinator from 1st November to 31st March. He vaccinates in
and around Serajgunge. He knows his work, and takes up village by village. Inoculation
is still practised in the sub-division, and small-pox visited some parts of it severely.