12
REPORT OF VACCINATION IN BENGAL
with four deaths, and 26 from Godda with three deaths. In 40 villages vaccination was perform-
ed to arrest the spread of the disease, while in two—Mohadebgunge and Kodarjona—the people
were opposed to receive it. These two villages are chiefly inhabited by Mahomedans and low
caste Hindoos called "Khyrwars." They still look on vaccination with fear, although many
in their neighbourhood have experienced its beneficial effects, and none of them have got
the disease, though they lie next to their doors. The people of Mohadebgunge at first tried
to conceal the fact of the occurrence of small-pox in their village; but when it became known
to me, I went to inspect their villages, and explained to them the noble purpose which had
brought me there. But so rude and ignorant were the people, that they would not give even
any certain information about the number of cases attacked, and of the deaths thereby
caused. I tried much to introduce vaccination among them, but to no effect.
"Fifty-one of the total number attacked had old inoculation, and seven were previously
vaccinated; others were unprotected. The outbreak in most of the places was of a mild
nature. The origin of the disease could not be ascertained in six villages, while in others
it was clearly traceable to intercommunication with the infected places.
" Services of extra vaccinators Baney Madhub Chuckerbutty, Aukhoor Chunder Dass,
and Nilmoney Dass, having been dispensed with, they applied to me for work on their own
account; and four men, viz. Dinonath Dass, Heera Lall Acharjee, Jadub Chunder Dass,
and Meghram, came to me for instruction. They were fully instructed, and were allowed to
practise. Two of them, viz. Jadub Chunder Dass and Meghram, were placed, at the request of
the Assistant Surgeon, in charge of the vaccination undertaken by the Rajmehal dispensary,
under his supervision. The nature of their work has been reported by Baboo Woomachurn
Mitter in his annual report on vaccination for the year 1875-76. The others worked under
me in 40 villages in Rajmehal and Godda subdivisions. The total number of cases vaccin-
ated by them was 2,945, with 2,885 successful operations, including the cases which proved
successful after repetition. They were placed under strict supervision. Their work was
inspected partly by me, and partly by the Native Superintendent Thacoor Dass Sircar. I am
glad to notice that most of them worked from carefully selected vesicles only, and they have
carried out my instructions in observing a uniform system with the vaccinators in operating
on the upper arms in four points."
48. A vaccine census was collected by the vaccinators. 39,032 persons belonging to 301
villages in the district were examined, of whom 50 78 per cent. were found inoculated, 44.89
vaccinated, 2.47 had had small-pox, and 1.86 unprotected. The census operations were not
supervised, and the figures must therefore be received with caution.
49. The Deputy Superintendent seems to have done his duties well, and the establish-
ment, though reduced to one-half, worked hard and successfully, and both deserve credit.
EASTERN BENGAL
CIRCLE
Establishment.
50. Eastern Bengal Circle.—The late Superintendent Baboo Bhoobun Mohun Mitter,
died during the recess. Dr. Bose, Civil Surgeon of Furreedpore, was in charge from 17th
October to 27th November 1875, when he was relieved by Mr. Lyons, the present Superin-
tendent, who has submitted a full report of the proceedings of the past year. The establish-
ment originally sanctioned for this circle was one Superintendent, 36 permanent and 36 extra
vaccinators, who worked only for the season. Last year one Deputy Superintendent and
24 apprentices were sanctioned by Government The establishment, however, continued short-
handed, or far under the sanctioned strength, for a considerable part of the season for want
of suitable candidates.
Plan of work.
51. Operations were commenced in ten thanas of the Furreedpore district, and the
whole establishment continued to work there till the beginning of January, when the
Superintendent received instructions to send a detachment of three head and twenty-four
ordinary vaccinators to Dacca. The object of this proceeding was to keep up the protection
of that district. The detachment vaccinated 16,356 persons in Dacca, and the main establish-
ment 80,437 cases in Furreedpore, where operations were latterly confined to five thanas only
instead of ten, as had been done in the beginning of the season. The following extract shows
the amount of protection conferred in the Furreedpore district:—" Thanas Sadipore and
Boshna have been satisfactorily protected; thanas Furreedpore and Ampore very fairly so;
thanas Pangsha and Belgatchia have had about, the former, one-third, and the latter one-fourth,
of the population protected. Thanas Palong, Deorah, and Madaripore, have just been touched.
In Goalundo, which had previously been protected, 600 persons more were vaccinated during
the season under report." The operations in the Dacca district were spread amongst its
various thanas. The total number of operations was 96,840, against 110,950 in the
preceding year—a falling off of 14,110, which the Superintendent accounted for by four causes,
viz. (1) operations being undertaken in a new district like Furreedpore ; (2) by the desertion
of some of the vaccinators; (3) by the loss of time in sending a detachment to Dacca in the
middle of the season; and (4) lastly, by sickness. The death of the late Superintendent, who
was indefatigable in the discharge of his work, and the arrival of a new Superintendent, who
must have taken some time to get into the proper way of working, coupled with some of the
preceding causes, would sufficiently account for the decrease of work and the consequent
slight increase of average cost of each successful case.