50
SONTHAL PERGUNNAHS.
It is impelled, as it were, by a sort of religious fear not to remain unprotected in the midst
of neighbouring protected villages, with whom it must have frequent intercourse.
6. The greater portion of pergunnah Ambar and the northern portion of pergunnah
Sultanabad, constituting the zemindaree portions of the sub-division of Pakour, have been
protected by vaccination last year. The area, as may be seen from the accompanying
sketch map, extends westward to within a few miles of the boundary line between Pakour
and Doomka; southward to within a few miles of Moheshpore, the residence of Rajah Gopal
Singh Bahadoor, zemindar of Sultanabad; and eastward to near the railway line, and in
certain places even across that line to the east. Owing to the ruggedness of the tract, the
exact area in square miles cannot be determined.
Number of villages
protected.
In this area 163 villages have been protected, and a total number of 10,091 primary
and two secondary vaccinations performed; 9,804 primary vaccinations were successful.
The percentage of success was therefore 97.20, excluding the cases unknown from total.
The two cases of re-vaccination were successful. The population of Pakour sub-division,
according to the last census, amounts to 141,304 ; now, taking the annual birth-rate at 30 per
1,000, we have 4,239.12 children annually born, so that more than double this number has
been protected.
The village of Pakour itself, in which stands the residence of the zemindar of Ambar,
has been left unprotected. The reason is that for two successive seasons past I have been
foiled in my attempts to get vaccination introduced into the zemindar's family and village.
This year I did not at first think of renewing my attempt, because I was afraid that would
weaken the cause of vaccination in their zemindaree. These rich men have a great influence
for good as well as for evil. If we succeed with them, the good that is done to the cause of
vaccination is immeasurable; but if we fail, the mischief that is done is quite as great, if
not greater. People are very apt to follow their example So instead of disturbing them
at first and throwing them into open resistance, I had this year adopted the policy of
quietly establishing vaccination in their zemindaree and almost all round their village, in
the hope of getting them round by degrees. Subsequently, when vaccination had been
established in the surrounding locality, I had attempted to influence them, through the head-
master of their school whose children got vaccinated, but without success. By the exercise
of tact and judgment, however, we have succeeded in accomplishing the object of establish-
ing vaccination in their zemindaree without their aid, as much as we could have done with
it. The present year, however, opens with an auspicious circumstance. Rajah Gopal
Singh Bahadoor, zemindar of Sultanabad, has allowed his household and his village to be
thoroughly vaccinated, and has thus paved the way for the future progress of vaccination in
his zemindaree.
Rajmehal.
7. In the sub-division of Rajmehal two vaccinators, viz. Peary Mohun Doss and
Bhagiruth Doss, were placed with instructions to protect certain definite areas in the
interior. They were carrying on their work with vigour in the tract of land lying six or
seven miles to the west of Bahawa station, East Indian Railway, when outbreaks of small-
pox occurring in the sub-division itself, and subsequently in the sub-division of Godda,
interfered with the regular progress of their work.
Vaccinator Peary Mohun Doss had to be sent to Godda in the beginning of January,
for the purpose of suppressing the fearful epidemic of small-pox that broke out there, and
of giving instruction, if possible, to the inoculators who were at work in the sub-division;
and vaccinator Bhagiruth Doss also followed him towards the latter end of February.
Number of villages
protected and
operations
performed
In the sub-division of Rajmehal 38 villages have been protected last year, and a total
number of 3,296 primary and 53 secondary vaccinations performed. 3,071, or 93.17 per cent.,
of the former, and 45, or 84.90 per cent., of the latter were successful. The population of
Rajmehal being 190,890, the annual birth-rate is 5,726.7, less than two-thirds of which were
protected last year, chiefly by two vaccinators working during a portion of the season.
There was, however, another agency at work in this sub-division—I mean the converted
inoculators, whose proceedings have been given below.
Godda.
Number of
operations.
8. In the sub-division of Godda 32 villages in portions of pergunnahs Godda and
Barkop have been protected by the two vaccinators who were at work there for the latter
part of the season. The total number of operations was 1,597, of which 1,534, or 96.05 per
cent., were successful.
Number vaccinated
by entire
establishment.
9. The total number of persons vaccinated during the year, as shown in the accom-
panying returns, amounts to 15,039, against 11,071 of the previous year; the number
successful, 14,456, against 10,490, the percentage of success being 96.15, against 95.08.
The cost of each successful case has been 2 annas 11.9 pies, against 4 annas 11/5 pie.
Each vaccinator on an average vaccinated 2,506.5 cases, against 1,845.16 in the preceding
year.
Increase over
previous season
Thus there has been, as compared with the year 1872-73, an increase of 3,968 persons
vaccinated, and of 3,966 successful vaccinations, a rise by 1.07 in the percentage of successful
cases, and a reduction of more than one anna in the cost of each successful case. There has
also been an increase of 661.3 in the number of cases vaccinated by each man.