ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
19
RAJSHAHYE DIVISION.
Dispensary
vaccination.
All the districts of this division (Pubna excepted) are included in the Darjeeling circle
of vaccination, and the following account shows what has been done by dispensary and
municipal committees:—
No municipal or
dispensary
vaccinators.
Dinagepore District.—No vaccinators were attached to any of the dispensaries or muni-
cipalities. Dr. Weber, Civil Medical Officer, himself vaccinated 184 cases successfully.
Small-pox prevailed more or less, but the disease was stamped out by the staff of the vaccine
circle
Municipality.
Small-pox.
Maldah District.—One vaccinator on Rs. 10 a month, paid by the municipality, was
attached to the dispensary for four months. The native doctors of the jail, Sudder, and
Chanchal dispensaries, also carried on vaccination. The work appears in table V. Mr. Minos
had not sufficient opportunity of supervising the operations, but he had reasons for believing
the correctness of the figures. The people are said not to appreciate vaccination. Small-pox
hung round the district throughout the year, and caused 91 deaths. > The Civil Surgeon
advocates compulsory vaccination.
Municipality.
Inspection.
Rajshahye District.—Dr. Bensley reports that two vaccinators were employed by the
Rampore Beauleah and Nattore municipalities, who worked chiefly within municipal limits.
They were also engaged in stamping out outbreaks of small-pox. The native doctors and
compounders attached to the Lallpore, Kuruchamorea, Tahirpore, and Kossimpore dispensaries
were also engaged in performing some operations. Table V shows the whole amount of work
done. The work of the two municipal vaccinators was supervised by the medical subordi-
nates attached to the dispensaries at those places, and also by the Civil Surgeon. There was
no prevalence of small-pox, and inoculation was not practised. The people, though apathetic,
are not prejudiced against vaccination.
Agency.
Inoculation.
Danger of training
inoculators.
Rungpore District.—Dr. K. P. Ghose reports that vaccination was carried on by an agency
of three independent and four paid vaccinators. Of the former, two were attached to
the Sudder and one to the Maheegunge dispensary; and of the latter one was allotted
to each of the four dispensaries at Batashur, Alipore, Saptana, and Kakina. In the
town the work was done within the municipality, and in the mofussil it was confined in
the neighbourhood of the dispensaries, so that the operations might be inspected. Dr. Ghose
and his assistant native doctor inspected the work, and found the results good. The definite
plan of carrying on vaccination from one place to another was pursued. The people
willingly take vaccination, and even pay a small fee. Inoculation was resorted to in some
parts of the district, but the practice is said to be dying out, and the inoculators betaking
themselves to agriculture and other pursuits. Dr. Ghose knows of places which have not
for upwards of thirty years been visited by inoculators, who labour under the impression that
their practice has been rendered penal by law. An inoculator's son was taken as a vaccinator.
Besides this, Dr. Ghose made other attempts in the same direction. Three inoculators
joined the dispensary for instruction, but before they could be considered capable they
become impatient for certificates, which was refused. They began practising spurious
vaccination on their own account. Dr. Ghose points out this danger of training inoculators
as vaccinators, but under sufficient surveillance the risk he apprehends should not make
abandonment of the attempt to win them over necessary or even expedient. Only
27 cases of small-pox were reported to the police, but the accuracy of the report is doubted,
as people conceal the disease. The Magistrate of the district did much for vaccination by
inducing the dispensary committees to entertain vaccinators. All, except the zemindars of
Kakina, carried out the Magistrate's suggestion.
Municipality.
Small-pox.
Bogra District.—Mr. Sandiford reports that two vaccinators on Rs 7 and Rs. 10 respec-
tively were entertained by the municipality. The work (vide Table V) was carried on from
November to March, and confined within the town and suburbs of Bogra and Sherepore.
Mr. Sandiford and the native doctor at Sherepore surpervised the operations. The town
and suburbs are well protected. The people are prejudiced to some extent against vaccin-
ation, but they take it after a little persuasion. No inoculation was heard of ; but neither
did any inoculator come for instruction. Small-pox broke out, but of 44 persons attacked
only two died.
Pubna.
Inoculation rife.
Pubna District.—Dr. Price reports that no vaccinator was attached to the dispensary: the
compounder vaccinated a few cases. Lymph supplied by the Superintendent-General
signally failed, and vaccination was started from English lymph. All the cases were
inspected by the Civil Surgeon, who himself operated on a few children. Inoculation is rife,
but there was no epidemic of small-pox.
At Doolye, the Assistant Surgeon in charge of the dispensary successfully vaccinated
two cases.
Growing
appreciation of
vaccination by the
people.
Serajgunge Subdivision.—Assistant Surgeon Bholanath Pal reports that the municipality
entertained one vaccinator on Rs. 10 from November to February, and that his salary for
March was paid by the people among whom he worked. Here, indeed, is a healthy sign of the