14
REPORT OF VACCINATION IN BENGAL
Establishment.
Increase.
51. The establishment of vaccinators underwent a considerable increase consequent
on the demands occasioned by outbreaks of small-pox. Six extra men on a salary of Rs. 8
per mensem were sanctioned by Bengal Government letter No. 2147, dated 5th June 1874,
and of these four men were entertained on the 21st June and two on the 21st July. Four of
them were new to the work, and though their services were available throughout the season, as
much work could not be expected from them as from experienced men. Again, by Govern-
ment of Bengal letter No. 4443, dated 4th December 1874, the transfer of the services of
one native superintendent and thirteen vaccinators from the Metropolitan circles was sanc-
tioned, but under a misapprehension the transfer was rather nominal than real, the men
having been merely attached as supernumeraries to Dr. Gupta's circles. They were
therefore a direct accession to the Sonthal Pergunnahs staff. They joined in January and
February, but owing to some difficulty about their pay and other causes three of them
absconded.
Vaccination and
small-pox in the
hot season.
52. Owing to the prevalence of small-pox during the hot weather of 1874, vaccination
was carried on in every month, except September, with a view to stamp out the disease.
These operations were limited to the sub-divisions of Godda, Pakour, and Rajmehal. Consider-
able difficulty was experienced in keeping up the supply of lymph, because the cold-weather
crusts were found useless, and the people object to arm-to-arm vaccination. A supply was,
however, procured from Darjeeling, which enabled the vaccinators to continue their work.
The hot-weather vaccinations amounted to 2,495, with a percentage of success of 84.04.
Plan of the
season's
operations.
53. The plan laid down for the season's operations was, generally, to extend the areas
vaccinated in Rajmehal and Pakour in previous years, and to employ the localities where
vaccination had been performed in Sultanabad and Godda for the suppression of small-pox
as nuclei of more extended operations. Newly entertained men were placed in proximity to
more experienced vaccinators for purposes of instruction and supervision. When the new
men joined in January and February, they were posted to other sub-divisions, Nya Doomka
Deoghur, and Jamtara. When outbreaks of small-pox were reported, men were detached to
stamp them out, and care was taken not to interfere with ex-inoculators practising vaccination,
but rather to encourage and direct them.
Detail of work
done.
54. The following summary represents sub-division by sub-division what work
was actually done during the season :—
Rajmehal.
Rajmehal.—Six vaccinators vaccinated 180 villages, and performed 6,017 operations with
a percentage of success of 89.43. This low rate is said to be due to their inexperience and
the strictness of the supervision. Small-pox was introduced by some inoculators from Maldah,
who worked in many villages of the sub-division. When Act IV of 1865 was applied to
the district (in February 1875), two of them were caught, tried, and imprisoned.
Pakour.
Pakour.—The greater part of this sub-division was vaccinated in previous seasons;
part of pergunnahs Ambas and Sultanabad. and the whole of Punchooara remaining.
These with the help of the civil authorities were done, and three men protected 89
villages, performing 6,500 vaccinations, with a percentage of 96.63 successful cases.
The number of successful vaccinations both in Rajmehal and Pakour is said to exceed
the estimated birth-rate. Proceedings in the remaining sub-divisions were not so
satisfactory.
Jamtara.
Jamtara.—Vaccination was introduced here for the first time; two men were sent, but
could not get any work done until, some deaths occurring among people who had been
inoculated, they took advantage of the alarm thus caused, and pushed their cause with such
success that they protected 38 villages, and vaccinated 3,854 persons, with a percentage of
success of 99.22.
Doomka.
Doomka.—This sub-division was also visited for the first time. The work was confined
to the neighbourhood of Nya Doomka, and three men protected 80 villages, vaccinating
3,592 cases, with a percentage of success of 95.48.
Godda.
Godda.—Three men worked in pergunnahs Godda, Barkop, and Passaye, and protected
51 villages, vaccinating 2,904 persons, with a percentage of 90.06 successful cases.
Deoghur.
Deoghur.—No work was done in this sub-division by the circle establishment, owing
to the opposition offered. Ten ex-inoculators came forward in February. The deputy
superintendent took pains to start them in work, and left a good vaccinator to assist them ;
but their work was not satisfactory.
General result.
55. The result of the work of the circle vaccinators shows an increase of 7,828 operations
and 6,906 successful operations. The diminished percentage of success is mainly due
to the large amount of hot-weather vaccination. The cost of each successful case has been
reduced, but, owing to the inexperience of many of the operators, the outturn of work per
man is very small. The lateness of commencing work of many, and the interested opposition
of inoculators, are also assigned as causes.
Deputy
superintendent's
inspections.
56. The deputy superintendent appears to have been very active. He inspected 240
villages and 12,779 cases, or 55.88 per cent. of the whole. He found the percentage of
success of the cases seen by him to be 97.94, the lower general rate being due to the