ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
21
Vaccination
readily received at
Burrisaul.
Small-pox.
failed to produce good vesicles. The people of Burrisaul readily accept vaccination, while
those of the district prefer inoculation, which is generally practised. Several unsuccessful
attempts were made to train inoculators, who would not consent to be instructed without some
remuneration. I consider money spent in overcoming their obstinacy to be ill laid out: self-
interest will by-and-by compel them to sue for what they now pretend to reject. Small-pox
was very prevalent, and caused 177 deaths, against 53 in the previous year.
Agency.
Lymph.
Freedom from
small-pox.
Mymensingh District.—Dr. Shaw reports that one vaccinator on Rs. 10, paid by Govern-
ment, was attached to the sudder dispensary throughout the year, and another on Rs. 8
was entertained by the Bazitpore municipality. The former worked in and around the
town under the orders and superintendence of the Civil Surgeon, who, however, had few
opportunities of verifying the results. The Assistant Surgeon saw and verified a great many
cases. The subordinates in charge of the branch and subdivisional dispensaries also carried
on vaccination. The work was desultory, and the lymph from Calcutta yielded unsatis-
factory results. The people are said to be opposed to vaccination, but yield readily to persu-
asion. Inoculation is extensively practised in the district, but not in and around the station.
The Bazitpore municipal vaccinator is the only converted ex-inoculator trained during the
year. Another came for tuition, but he did not stay long. The district enjoyed a remark-
able freedom from small-pox, there being only a few deaths from the disease.
CHITTAGONG DIVISION.
Agency.
Municipality.
Vaccinations
performed
Chittagong District.—Four vaccinators were employed during the year under report,
three paid by Government and one by the Chittagong municipality, at the rate of Rs. 10
each a month. One was attached to the dispensary throughout the year, and three were
extra men entertained for the season. The municipal vaccinator worked chiefly in the town,
while the extra men went to the interior of the district vaccinating one village after another.
Dr. Murray took charge after the expiration of the season, and his predecessor had made
no inspection of the work, for reasons which it is needless to detail here, but which were
satisfactorily explanatory of the omission. 769 against 1,775 vaccinations were performed.
The decrease is attributed to the unusual prevalence of small-pox, and to some extent to the
opposition of the people, who are most persistently prejudiced against vaccination. Of the
three extra men, two had been inoculators, but who were voluntarily trained and
employed as vaccinators. Small-pox caused 60 deaths. The cost of each successful case was
four annas and six pie.
Agency.
Plan of work.
Inoculation.
Chittagong Hill Tracts.—The Civil Medical Officer reports that one trained vaccinator on
Rs 20, and a hillman apprentice on Rs. 10, were entertained—the former from 27th
November, and the latter from 9th January, and worked till the 1st of April. Should the hill-
men adopt the profession of vaccinators, the cost of the operations will show a considerable
decline, as imported men have to be bribed with higher pay on account of the comparative
banishment. Operations were commenced at Rungamuttee, and afterwards extended to
Kassalong and other villages up the Kurnafoolee river. The Deputy Commissioner issued
perwannahs to the headmen of villages to assist the vaccinators. The work was frequently
inspected by the Civil Medical Officer and found to be satisfactory. The apprentice was
always present during the operations, and learnt a good deal. Owing to the late commence-
ment of the work, and the establishment of a quarantine prohibiting communication with the
hill villages, much work could not be accomplished The hill people (Chukmas, Tipperahs,
and Mughs), though extremely ignorant and superstitious, offered no resistance to vaccin-
ation. Inoculation by Bengali and Mugh operators is practised in some localities. There
was an outbreak of small-pox in the end of March. The cost of each successful case was
four annas and nine pie. The hillman apprentice is said to be not yet competent to work
independently, and the employment of a trained vaccinator for another season is urged by
the medical officer as necessary for success.
Establishment.
Inspection.
Deaths from
inoculation.
Noakholly District.—The establishment consisted of one Government vaccinator on Rs. 10
throughout the year, and of three municipal vaccinators paid from Rs. 3 to Rs 4 for every 100
successful operations— a novel principle, but likely to be practically advantageous, because calcu-
lated to call forth the best efforts of the operator, and because a real good progress is obtained
with five apprentices who worked on their own account. They worked in villages situated in
different thanas; the protection of the municipality being undertaken by the Civil Medical Officer
and his subordinates. The aid of the civil authorities and of influential zemindars was soli-
cited to extend vaccination, but no progress could be made till inoculation, which is causing much
mischief in the district, is prohibited by law. The work was inspected by the Civil Medical
Officer.
The people are beginning to appreciate vaccination. Baboo K. C. Chatterjee
succeeded in inducing several Moulvies to allow their children and students to be vaccinated.
Inoculation was not practised in the station and its vicinity, but it was carried on in every
thana in the interior of the district. Thirty deaths from inoculation were reported. Two
inoculators were taught vaccination, and granted licenses to practise. They broke their
promise and reverted to their old practice—a proceeding which could surely be punishable