ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS FROM CIVIL SURGEONS.
57
Small-pox.
"11. Small-pox was not epidemic in any quarter of the district, except in some villages
near the town of Tumlook, where it broke out during the last ten days of December.
" I inspected on two occasions the affected villages, and deputed an experienced vaccinator,
named Sibdal Nusser, to assist the local men who did not appear to be making sufficient
progress.
" The cases of small-pox that I saw were not of a severe type, and the disease, fortunately,
did not spread to any incontrolable extent. Vaccination was carried on in about 31 villages, and
3,698 people were operated on.
" 12. This is the second season that vaccination has been introduced into this part of the
country on the new system. The progress made has been satisfactory, and if this quarter of the
zillah escapes the epedemic fever, I look forward to vaccination being established at Tumlook
on as satisfactory and sound a basis as it has been for some years in the latter station.
Inoculators.
" 13. Inoculators were not heard of during the past year, nor do I believe that in those
parts of the district where the people were healthy much opposition to vaccination was offered
by the villagers.
" 14. The most active opponent to vaccination, that I heard of during the past year, was
a head-constable in charge of an outpost near Laranghur, who was pleased to place every
obstacle in his power in the vaccinators way, and nearly brought the work to a stand-still by
informing the people that they were being vaccinated with cow's fat, &c., &c. I brought the
conduct of this man promptly to the notice of the district superintendent of police, who I
believe transferred him to some less responsible appointment.
Co-operation of
civil authorities.
" 15. As in past seasons, I have been favoured with the influence and co-operation of the
civil authorities, the importance of which in an undertaking of this kind cannot be overrated.
The new vaccinators have all been appointed, and received certificates from the magistrate
which has given them a status and an influence with the people which they would otherwise
never have possessed, and as long as this system is so aided and supported it will certainly
flourish and prosper sooner or later.
Suppression of
inoculation by law.
" 16. In conclusion, there is one point to which I beg to allude. I think the time has
now come for suppressing by law the practice of inoculation throughout the district. For
nearly six years inoculation has been prohibited by law within the municipal boundaries of
the town, and I believe that the adoption of this measure was the principal reason that so
many of the inoculators of the district abandoned their old calling.
" 17. The practice of inoculation has greatly fallen in public estimation, and I feel confi-
dent that its prohibition by law would give the final blow to this baneful custom in the
Midnapore district, and at the same time aid considerably our efforts to introduce vaccination.
" 18. Supposing, for argument's sake, that every inoculator in the district agreed to learn
vaccination. Under present circumstances we are powerless to prevent inoculators from other
districts coming into Midnapore, and spreading small-pox far and wide.
" 19. I am no advocate for the indiscriminate suppression by law of small-pox inocula-
tion, which would leave the people without any form of protection, but in this case no fear of
such a contingency exists, and I think the enforcement of this law in the Midnapore district
would not be attended with any bad results."
Hooghly.
Hooghly district.—This district is included in the Metropolitan circles, and has been
gone over a second time, except a portion of thana Kistonuggur.
Mr. R. F. Thompson reports there is one municipal vaccinator who receives Rs. 10
per mensem all the year round, and who generally works within municipal limits. He is
said to have vaccinated 2,240 persons for the first time, of whom 2,070 were successful; and
401 secondary vaccinations, with 279 successful cases. The operations were inspected every
week, and the cases sometimes compared with the register. The people are very willing to
have their children vaccinated. Inoculation is not now practised. No inoculators were
trained. Chicken-pox prevailed at times in Hooghly and Chinsurah. Mr. Thompson found
the ratio of unprotected among the number of persons he examined to be a little over 6
per cent.
Howrah
Howrah.—This district is included in the Metropolitan circles, and had been gone over
once. Some thanas were visited twice. Dr. Bird reports that two vaccinators were
engaged on Rs. 10 a month, paid by the municipality. One worked for five months, and the
other for six months. They confined their operations within the municipal boundaries, and
vaccinated 1,810 persons, with a percentage of 96.72 successful cases, against 2,245 in the
previous year. The work was inspected almost daily. The civil surgeon says the people
are well inclined towards vaccination, and readily bring their children to be vaccinated.
Sporadic cases of small-pox occurred within the municipality and caused 28 deaths.
Ooterparah
dispensary.
Ooterparah branch dispensary.—There is no vaccinator attached to the dispensary, as the
place is now included in the Metropolitan circles, and was gone over during the past season.
The assistant surgeon reports there is one local vaccinator, who practises on his own account,
and has submitted a return through him, viz., 883 persons with a percentage of 96.3 successful
H