Sixth Annual Report of the Metropolitan Circles of Vaccination for the year ending 31st March
1874, by SURGEON K. P. GUPTA, M.B., Superintendent.
Establishment.
1. Establishment.—There has been little or no change in the establishment. The circles
have been under my superintendence throughout the year under report. The three deputy
superintendents remain unchanged. The head and ordinary vaccinators have continued at
their posts; only a few new men were entertained to supply certain vacancies in the last
grade of vaccinators and apprentices.
Employment of
vaccinators during
the recess.
2. Employment of vaccinators during the recess.—In accordance with instructions
received from the authorities, the vaccinators were granted leave from April to August to
visit their homes, a few being kept within call for emergency. The head and ordinary
vaccinators received two-thirds, and the apprentices one-half, of their salaries during the non-
working months. This reduction of pay came into operation for the first time in April 1873,
and caused some degree of discontent. When small-pox broke out in some places during
the recess, vaccinators were sent to stamp out the disease, and while thus actively employed
they received full pay.
Plan of work for
the season.
3. Plan of work for the season 1873-74—The following plan of work was drawn up and
submitted to Government through the usual channel:—
The 1st Metropolitan circle was to be employed in revisiting the northern half of the
24-Pergunnahs, detaching one gang to thana Coomercolly, in the north of Nuddea; the 2nd
circle to be engaged in going over the Hooghly district a second time ; and the 3rd circle
to undertake one thana in Hooghly and several adjoining thanas in the Burdwan district,
detaching one gang to thanas Oolooberiah and Shampore to complete the re-vaccination of the
west bank of the Hooghly, which had been undertaken in the previous season. The scheme
was approved of, and preparations were accordingly made to carry it out.
Preparation.
4. Preparation.—In the beginning of September some vaccinators were sent out to
take a survey of the country to be undertaken, and also to prepare the minds of the people, and
thus pave the way. The Commissioners of the Presidency and Burdwan divisions were at the
same time requested to ask the district magistrates, and through them the sub-divisional officers,
to take an interest in vaccination and to aid the vaccinators. Mr. Peacock, the Magistrate
of the 24-Pergunnahs, very kindly issued instructions to the sub-divisional officers of Dum-
Dum, Barrackpore, and Busseerhat to give every possible assistance to the vaccinators.
Similar assistance was afforded by the Magistrates of Nuddea, Burdwan, Hooghly, and
Howrah. Constant communication was kept up with the civil authorities, and on all import-
ant occasions they were consulted.
In anticipation of the Surgeon-General's instructions, I indented for and obtained a
small supply of common medicines for the use of the establishment. Each gang of vaccin-
ators was provided with a little box containing quinine, chlorodyne, ammonia, jalap, ipecacu-
anha, laudanum, &c., with instructions how to use them. The three deputy superintendents
were also similarly supplied, and the superintendent took a box of medicines with him for
his own use and for distribution among the sick poor who would come to his tent and apply
for medical advice.
Actual start.
5. Actual commencement or starting.—About the middle of September the vaccinators,
accompanied by vaccinifers, left Calcutta for their several destinations. Thus the 3rd circle
men went to the Burdwan district and established virus at a central place, from which vaccin-
ated children were supplied to adjoining thanas. The 2nd circle men similarly established
virus at a central place in the Hooghly district. The 1st circle were somewhat tardy in
commencing operations, as they did not establish virus in the 24-Pergunnahs as well as in
Coomercolly before the beginning of October. In every case the virus was first examined by
the deputy superintendents and head vaccinators with a view to ascertain that it was really
good before the vaccinators were allowed to vaccinate many children from it. And the same
care was taken throughout the season to keep up a supply of good and genuine virus.
By the middle of October, when the Doorga Poojah was over, all the gangs were in full
working order.
Mode of
employment.
6. Mode of employment.—As usual, the vaccinators were employed in gangs consisting
of seven or eight vaccinators and two apprentices under a head vaccinator. One or more thanas
were assigned to each gang, and the whole force was concentrated; thus the 1st circle were