ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
27
Total work performed in the Metro-
politan Circles.
34. Although disposed of and shown separately in the pages of this report, it would be
useful to exhibit together the entire vaccination work per-
formed by the Metropolitan Circles' staff. The following
table furnishes this information:—
Metropolitan
(district)
Circles...
...
...
Suburbs of Calcutta...
6 Municipalities
in 24
Total...
Total number of persons
vaccinated.
Males.
199,801
8,768
848
345
1,569
211,331
Females.
184,415
6,923
586
265
1,297
193,486
Total.
384,216
15,691
1,434
610
2,866
404,817
PRIMARY VACCINATIONS.
Total
384,068
8,535
1,409
610
2,752
397,374
Successful.
Under one year
38,138
2,066
106
38
457
40,805
One vear and
under six.
261,233
6,057
879
419
1,703
269,291
Total of all ages.
382,782
8,498
1,381
597
2,724
395,982
Re-vaccin-
ations.
Total.
148
7,156
25
...
114
7,443
Successful
54
1,278
16
...
37
1,385
Percentage of
successful
cases.
Primary.
99.66
99.56
98.01
97.86
98.98
99.64
Re-vaccinations.
36.48
17.85
64.00
...
32.45
13.60
Attitude of the people towards vaccin-
ation.
35. The Superintendent reports that among the Hindus a few families do not take vaccin-
ation, as they say that they depend upon the ecchya, or
pleasure of the goddess of small-pox (Shitola), and that
among the Mahomedans the Ferazees, or fatalists, resist vaccin-
ation. The prejudices of this sect have been overcome in Nuddea, but in Jessore and
Moorshedabad small communities exist here and there unprotected. Some of the zemindars
in the districts are said to have been positively hostile to vaccination, and to have
prevented by threats their ryots from submitting to the measure. At thana Debra the
Superintendent found several villages unprotected owing to the resistance offered by two
zemindars, viz. the Deys of Ghosepore and the Nundies of Polaspore. From the Sanitary
reports of the year the following facts have been gathered. At Midnapore vaccination is
objected to, especially by the Mahomedans The people say that "it is not good for them
because it is an European scheme." But on the whole it has fairly superseded inoculation.
At Howrah the better informed class of natives prefer vaccination, the lower class inocu-
lation, as it is believed that a person once inoculated is safe for ever, whereas vaccination has
to be repeated every now and then. In Nuddea vaccination is as a rule appreciated, and
is gradually coming into greater favour with the people at large In the Meherpore thana
some villagers, being unable to get vaccination during the time that small-pox prevailed,
had recourse to inoculation. They were prosecuted and punished. At Jessore the Maho-
medans in certain parts of thanas Mollahat and Morrelgunge object to vaccination, saying
that it is against their ancestral custom. With this exception vaccination is adopted in
every part of the district without much prejudice or fear. The Marwaries and the bazar
people object to and retard the progress of vaccination in the town of Soori, in Beerbhoom.
Local aid given for the promotion
of vaccination.
Rajah Gopendro Nath Chowdry, of
Pincnetgurh.
Rajah Kahpiosono Gojendro Maha-
pattro, of Khemdioee
Ali Jan Meah, of Midnapore.
Shama Churn Ruth, of a place near
Kurkai.
Ujudhya Nath Koilla, naib of the
Mullicks of Midnapore
36. As a rule few render assistance in promoting vaccination, The carrying out of orders
given to the police to aid vaccination depends, it is said,
on the whim or conviction of the sub-inspector. If he is
favorably disposed towards the measure, he gives the
required assistance, but if opposed to it, he tries passively to thwart it. The Superintendent
remarks that on account of the lukewarmness evinced by the civil authorities and the police
a new occupation has arisen for the licensed vaccinators, viz. that of keeping watch and ward
after inoculators. This continued disinterestedness shown by the police is much to be regretted,
and might with advantage be put down. This year Mr. Anderson, Magistrate of Bankoora,
Mr. Wace, Magistrate of Beerbhoom, Baboo Ramokhoy Chatterjee, Deputy Magistrate
of Ghattal, and Baboo Tarinee Coomar Mitter, Deputy
Magistrate of Moheshreka, rendered much assistance, and the
Superintendent mentions the names of the zemindars and
influential persons reproduced in the margin as having
prominently rendered similar aid, and thinks that if the
Government were to thank them for their assistance it will
be an inducement to others to forward the good cause, as he
believes that if zemindars and men of position were to take
an interest in the matter large numbers of their ryots would be vaccinated.
Inoculation.
37. The law prohibiting inoculation is in force in all the districts under this circle.
Inoculation is practised clandestinely, specially in the Contai
sub-division in Midnapore, where it is extensively carried
on. At Bhugwanpore the people want to have inoculation, being ignorant, or pretending
ignorance, of the law prohibiting inoculation. The sanitary reports show that it is also
carried on surreptitiously in the 24-Pergunnahs, especially in the Soonderbun clearings, in
some out-of-the-way parts of the Diamond Harbour sub-division, and in Sagor Island among
the Dhangers, Coles, and other races who have immigrated from the Central Provinces. It is