ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
29
gone over the previous season, were again selected. On the whole 1,739 primary cases
were operated on, of which 1,690 were successful, or a percentage of 97.18. Influential
natives at Begumgunge and in its neighbourhood assisted by example and advice in
extending operations. Two villages were inspected by the Civil Surgeon three times, and
three five times. There was no record kept by him of the number of cases examined, but
apparently he saw between three and four hundred ; and amongst those examined he met
with 11 unsuccessful cases. The attitude of the people is said to be favourable to vaccin-
ation. There is a growing regard for it, and the demand for vaccination near the station
has been greater than the Civil Surgeon could find vaccinators to meet. Notwithstanding
that vaccination is yearly gaining ground, inoculation is still largely practised in this district.
No measures were taken to train inoculators. The Civil Surgeon is of opinion that until
the practice of inoculation is rendered penal the inoculators in these parts will prefer to
follow their own mode of operation. On the advantage of vaccination by trained private
vaccinators the Civil Surgeon states that it will no doubt commend itself more forcibly
next season, when he apprehends it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get
vaccinators; and as the municipality is not in a position to import men, vaccination under
official supervision will be at a stand-still, unless measures are taken for the introduction of
vaccinators of the Vaccination Department. One of the private vaccinators, the Civil
Surgeon says, had earned during the season Rs. 70, a sum very nearly double what he would
have received from the municipality.
Tipperah.—There were two vaccinators—one at the sudder station and one at the sub-
division of Bramenberriah—employed by the municipality throughout the year. The vac-
cinators worked chiefly in the towns of Commillah and Bramenberriah, and when the work in
those places was completed they were sent out to the neighbouring villages. Two thousand
three hundred and fifty-one primary and 230 secondary operations were recorded, of which
2,198 and 126 respectively were successful. The Civil Surgeon is stated to have visited one
village, but no record of any cases examined by him was kept. The people generally within
municipal limits are in favour of vaccination; a small portion, however, still obstinately adhere
to the practice of inoculation. The latter is freely practised in all places where it has
not been prohibited by law. One inoculator, it is said, was trained to vaccinate three years
ago, and is practising on his own account in the jurisdiction of thana Daodkandy. He is
said to have performed 354 operations, of which 348 were returned as successful.
PATNA DIVISION.
Dinapore Cantonment.—Dr. Daphtary reports that owing to the want of funds the
services of the vaccinators who had been attached to the dispensary for the past few years
were dispensed with, and vaccination in the sub-division was left to the Superintendent of Vac-
cination, Behar circle. The three vaccinators deputed by this officer appeared to work well.
They visited different bazars and localities in and around cantonments, and aid was afforded
by the cantonment authorities where it was required. Dr. Daphtary inspected their work in
cantonment on several occasions, and found it satisfactory. There was no opposition in
the neighbourhood of cantonments. Small-pox did not prevail in an epidemic form
in any part of the sub-division; stray cases were reported from the district, but the prevalence
of the disease was considerably less than in the preceding year.
Patna.—There were six vaccinators attached to the Patna City dispensary, and they were
paid by the municipality. The head vaccinator gets Rs. 10 per mensem in the working:
season and Rs. 8 during the recess. Two vaccinators get Us. 7 each and three others Rs. 5
each during the working season, which in the year under review commenced on 16th Novem-
ber 1879 and ended on 31st March 1880. These vaccinators were divided into two
batches: one worked within thanas Khaja Kalan and Chauk Kalan, the other in
thanas Malsalama and Bagh Jafur Khan. Licenses were also granted to eight inoculators
to vaccinate in the city. These inoculators, like the vaccinators, were divided into two
batches, and they worked conjointly with the vaccinators. They are said to have worked
well. Their operations were inspected by the vaccinators. Altogether 1,840 persons
were vaccinated—1,779 by the vaccinators and 61 by the inoculators. The average num-
ber operated on by each of the former was 296.5, and that by each of the latter 7.6.
The number of primary operations was 1,840, of which 1,548 were successful, or 84.1
per cent. The Civil Surgeon visited the city four or five times for the purpose of super-
intending the vaccine operations. He found 125 persons vaccinated with 106 successful
cases. Most of the people of the city have commenced to appreciate the advantages
of vaccination. They willingly get themselves and their children operated on, but still
the religious prejudices stand in the way of many. They have the impression that
by adopting the practice they incur the displeasure of the goddess of small-pox. Inocu-
lation is prohibited within municipal limits.
Bankipore.—There is one permanent vaccinator employed throughout the year, and
he is paid Rs. 10 per mensem during the five working months and Rs. 8 during the
remaining seven months of the year. Five temporary vaccinators were employed for
4½ months—two at Rs. 7 each per mensem, and three at Rs. 5 each. All the vaccinators
are paid by the municipality.
Arm-to-arm vaccination was done. Mohullas were
defined, and the vaccinators were sent in batches of three to vaccinate. Orders were
issued by the Magistrate to the thanas to assist the vaccinators when required. The