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ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS
Vaccination sought
by the people.
the cases were inspected by Mr. Thompson and his Assistant Surgeon. Vaccination is sought
by the people, and inoculation is obsolete. Small-pox broke out epidemically, and two
dispensaries—one at Ishworbag, and another at British Chandernagore—were open, where
197 cases were treated with 25 deaths. A batch of vaccinators from the Metropolitan staff
under a Deputy Superintendent vaccinated 2,800 cases in and around the infected places,
and thereby checked the disease.
Recommendation.
Mr. Thompson recommends the employment of another permanent vaccinator.
Serampore.
Inoculation.
Serampore Subdivision.—Dr. Greene reports that one vaccinator on Rs. 10 a month
was employed by the municipality. From October to 15th April 948 cases were vaccinated—
926 successfully—within municipal limits. The work was inspected twice a month.
Educated and influential residents are in favour of vaccination. Inoculation was not
heard of.
Howrah.
Howrah District.—The municipality of Howrah employed two vaccinators on Rs. 10
each throughout the year. They vaccinated 2,387 cases—2,111 successfully—within muni-
cipal limits. The people prefer vaccination to inoculation, which has become almost extinct.
Small-pox prevailed sporadically, and caused 98 deaths in the district.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS.—PRESIDENCY DIVISION.
Vaccinators
supplied to
municipalities.
Instruction of
ex-inoculators.
24-Pergunnahs District.—Vaccination of this district formed part of the work of the
Metropolition circles, in which it is included. Special arrangements were however made,
and vaccinators were supplied by Dr. Gupta to the several municipalities situated in this
district. The work done is shown in table V. The people are said to be favourably disposed
to vaccination, and no inoculation was practised. Two inoculators received training in the
Metropolitan circles, and were granted certificates to practise on their own account. The
native doctor of Busseerhat instructed three ex-inoculators, who received a subsistence
allowance of Rs. 4 each during probation. 23 outbreaks of small-pox occurred, affecting
29 villages in fifteen different thanas, and these were all stamped out by the Metropolitan
vaccine establishment.
Municipalities
employing
vaccinators.
Nuddea District.—This district is comprised in the Metropolitan circles. Special
arrangements were also made, and the several municipalities obtained vaccinators from
Dr. Gupta, keeping them at work for periods varying from two to six months. Table V shows
the work which Dr. Bensley reports to be satisfactory. The people are beginning to appre-
ciate vaccination, and inoculation is prohibited. The district was nearly free from small-pox,
and Dr Bensley remarks that " the protection from small-pox enjoyed by the people of this
district is very great."
Agency employed.
No small-pox.
Jessore District.—Vaccine operations were conducted by the staff of the Metropolitan
circles. Surgeon Gregg reports on vaccinations done in dispensaries and municipalities.
Four dispensaries, viz. Khoolna, Bagirhat, Sreedhurpore, and Dowlutpore, had each a
vaccinator attached to it for short periods, and four vaccinators worked within the municipal
boundaries of Jessore. The work is shown in table V, and it was supervised by the Assistant
Surgeon at Jessore, and by the native doctors at the outlying dispensaries. Vaccination is not
willingly received. The people are said to prefer inoculation, which has now been rendered
penal by law. No prevalence of small-pox was reported
Agency employed.
Inspection.
Inoculation.
Moorshedabad District.—An elaborate report is submitted by Dr. Shircore, who states that
fourteen vaccinators—four paid by Government and ten from municipal and other sources—
were employed during the season. The four Government and four municipal vaccinators were
attached to the dispensaries at Berhampore and Moorshedabad—three were sent to the dispen-
saries at Kandi, Jungipore, and Azimgunge, while one man was entertained and paid by Rai
Jogendro Narain Roy Bahadoor, zemindar, for his dispensary at Lallgolah. Excepting the
Moorshedabad, Jungipore, and Lallgolah vaccinators, all the men received Rs. 10 each per
month. At Moorshedabad four vaccinators at Rs. 5, instead of two at Rs. 10 a month, were
employed; but Dr. Shircore thinks this an unwise plan. The municipal vaccinators worked
within municipal limits, and the Government vaccinators operated in villages around Berham-
pore. The work was supervised by the Civil Surgeon, and by the Assistant Surgeons in charge
of the several dispensaries to which the vaccinators were attached. Assistant Surgeons Okhoy
Coomar Dey and Omirto Lall Mozoomdar are reported as having been especially attentive
to the vaccine operations, and the Civil Surgeon vouches for the correctness of their returns
The total number vaccinated was 4,206, against 5,453 in the preceding year, and the decrease
is chiefly attributed to the failure of lymph received from Calcutta, by reason of which two
months were unfortunately lost, but also to the apathy of the people, who only seek vaccin-
ation when threatened by small-pox. Dr. Shircore urges the desirability of transferring the
district to one of the vaccine circles. Inoculation was practised in some remote parts of the
district. Dr. Shircore tried in former years to train ex-inoculators as independent vaccinators,
but found when left to themselves they reverted to their old trade of inoculation. He will,
however, give them another trial.