18
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BENGAL
Small-pox was almost entirely absent from the above area during the year. The cases
reported from Bogra were chicken-pox, and none were reported from Rajshaye, although
later information shows that one case was introduced from a ship coming from Mecca to
Calcutta from which the passengers seem to have been landed without any examination
or quarantine. Three cases occurred in thana Mohung in Rungpore, but the disease did
not spread. Fourteen deaths were noted in one imperfectly protected village in Dinagepore.
This was certainly a satisfactory state of matters in such an extensive area, liable to have
small-pox brought into it, from all sides, and gives promise that, working the Government
establishment to extend the area and afterwards appointing licensed vaccinators, a large
part of Bengal, formerly much afflicted by small-pox, will remain for long periods
almost exempt from it. I did not hear of any one practising inoculation where it was
forbidden by law.
6. Considering the many difficulties connected with the experiment of trying a self-
supporting system of vaccinaton under Government supervision, I think it may be received
that it has been fairly successful. The expenditure has been insignificant compared with
the results obtained. The addition of the operations of the licensed vaccinators to those of
the Government men overtakes the birth-rate of the whole circle. Under orders conveyed
in Government letter No. 2069, dated 7th May 1879, the fees to be taken by licensed
vaccinators are fixed at two annas. This will I fear induce a good many men to
throw up their appointments as they took them up on the understanding that the fees
sanctioned by Government were four annas for a boy and two for a girl. A change to a
lower rate is, I think, unfortunate after the matter had once before been considered
and decided."
CIRCLE VACCINATION.
Ranchee.—The report dated 22nd May 1879 is submitted by Surgeon D. Basu who has
officiated as Superintendent since the 22nd July 1878, when he relieved Dr. J. J. Wood.
Assistant Surgeon Prosunno Coomar Dey, who was appointed in December 1877, was reap-
pointed for six months from 1st November 1878. Three Inspectors appointed in December
1877 were discharged on the 31st July 1878. From 21st October 3 Inspectors and 19 vaccina-
tors were employed for six months in addition to the permanent staff of 3 superintending
and 20 ordinary vaccinators. The work of the establishment is represented by 66,094 cases, of
which 63,125, or 99.75 per cent., were successful, the cost of each successful case having been
2 annas 112/3 pie. The figures for the previous year were 18,963 cases with a success of
17,166, or 95.15 per cent., and the cost of each successful case was 8 annas and 8 pie. Thus
there has been an increase of 47,131 cases and of 45,959 successful cases, and the percentage
of success is higher by 5. This marvellous increase is attributed to crusts having been for-
bidden to be used last year so long as lymph, wet or dry, was procurable. Manbhoom, which
is the most densely populated of the districts, supplied the largest number of cases. It is
added that these figures relate to circle vaccination only.
A supply of lymph was kept up during the non-working season by means of operations
performed in 1,270 from April to October in Hazaribagh, Purulia, and Ranchee. Of these
1 ,099, or 89.64 per cent., were successful. The regular operations were commenced in
October.
Singbhoom.—A party of nine vaccinators under an inspecting vaccinator commenced work
at Bundgaon on the 1st November and worked south, but the whole of the men soon became
disabled from fever and dysentery; and, though they continued to work when able, they made
little progress till January, when they became free from disease and got on very well, indeed,
till March, when their course was indirectly stopped by " the obstinacy of the zemindar of
Anundpore, who punished his ryots for taking vaccination, and also by the prejudice of the
people of Sarunda who first wanted a Brahmin inoculator, but refused his services when one
was furnished with a purwana." Dr. Basu says that in some places the zemindars wanted
25 per cent. of the fees, and as there were no fees charged, they opposed the vaccinators.
This party vaccinated 6,689 persons, 6,124 with success, or 89.68 per cent. The number of
villages said to have been protected was 302, and each vaccinator on an average did 955
cases. Some vaccinators were found to have taken pice from the villagers, but the money
was returned and the men who took it suspended. The party was inspected thrice in Jan-
uary by the Deputy Superintendent and twice in February by the Superintendent.
Manbhoom.—Superintending Vaccinator Shunkur Lall with eight vaccinators and two
apprentices worked in the south-eastern portion of this district in thanas Purulia, Manbazar,
Raipore, Simla, Pal, and Khatra, starting with a good supply of lymph. In some places the
villagers objected to be vaccinated by Mahomedans, but notwithstanding this, and also that
these parts of the country had been gone over by ex-inoculators who had given in large
numbers in their returns, the party operated on 14,756 cases, of which 14,150 were
successful, or 92.04 per cent.
Each vaccinator on an average did 1,804.5 cases,
and there were 996 villages protected. The work of the two apprentices is shown with that of
the ex-inoculators. The Deputy Superintendent inspected the party twice in November and
thrice in December, five times in January, twice in February, and twice in March. Dr. Basu
himself inspected. The superintending vaccinator is commended for his zeal, activity, and
diligence. Some of the vaccinators here also took pice from the villagers, but were fined for
doing so. A party of eight vaccinators under Inspecting Vaccinator Mahomed Jankhan