FOR THE YEAR 1875-76.
15
Beerbhoom.
Presidency
division
Municipal
vaccination.
Moorshedabad.
out by Dr. Gupta in a separate communication on the subject, the success of the
scheme depends on competent supervision, and on the invariable adoption of arm-to-arm
vaccination, instead of the use of crusts, which always prove unsatisfactory in the hands
of the careless ex-inoculators, though I think this adjective should never be justly appli-
cable where a certificate of fitness has been given. It should only be granted where men
have established their character for thorough efficiency. No report has been received from
Midnapore, though I have repeatedly called for it. In Beerbhoom vaccination was con-
fined to the civil station of Sooree and its vicinity. Vaccinators were also sent to stamp
out small-pox in the interior of the district. Of the districts included in the Presidency
division, the whole of the 24-Pergunnahs, Nuddea, and Jessore, are systematically vaccinated
by the Metropolitan circles. Several townships and municipalities employed vaccinators.
This is a commendable practice, inasmuch as it forms a nucleus of self-supporting vaccin-
ation. The vaccinators in such cases are well trained men provided by the Superintendent
of the Metropolitan circles. Moorshedabad, which has been transferred to the Presidency
division, is not included in any vaccine circle. Vaccination was performed in the cities of
Berhampore and Moorshedabad, and also in some of the branch dispensaries. Dr. Shircore
again urges the necessity of transferring the district to one of the vaccine circles, and the
Magistrate supports the proposal.
Rajshahye division
Rungpore
Bogra
Orissa division.
All the districts in the Rajshahye division (Pubna excepted ) are included in the
Darjeeling circle of vaccination. In addition to the circle work, all the districts exhibit
some improvement. In Rungpore Dr. K. D. Ghose had some additional vaccinators enter-
tained by zemindars, and thereby got a good deal of work done. The vaccinator in Maldah
performed very few vaccinations (107), considering he was employed for four months. Pubna
is, as usual, very backward. In Bogra the numbers fell short very considerably of the
previous year. The Orissa division has this season been formed into a vaccine circle with
Cuttack as head-quarters; but as operations were commenced in the month of January only,
and as the Superintendent was a novice in vaccine work, very little work was accomplished.
Vaccinators were also attached to the dispensaries and municipalities of Cuttack,Pooree,
and Balasore, and they did good work under the supervision of the Civil Surgeons.
Eastern districts.
The Eastern districts, composing the Dacca division, are all included in the Eastern
Bengal vaccine circle. The amount of work done by the circle staff was confined to two
districts—Dacca and Furreedpore. The municipal vaccinator employed in Dacca and Backer-
gunge performed a larger number of vaccinations than in the previous year, while in
Furreedpore and Mymensingh the numbers fell off. Vaccination is very backward in the
Chittagong division. One hillman was found willing to be instructed in the art in the
Hill Tracts. More work was accomplished in Noakholly and Tipperah than in 1874.
Patna division.
Work "done by
municipal
vaccinators.
Bhagulpore
division.
Cooch Behar
division
Chota Nagpore
The Patna division has been formed into a vaccine circle, with its head-quarters at
Patna. A good beginning has been made, and a stimulus given to vaccination in Behar.
In addition to the work of the circle, vaccinators were employed by the municipalities of
Patna and Dinapore, who performed a good number of vaccinations. The work at sub-
division Behar was unsatisfactory: it was better at Barrh. In Gya and Shahabad some
work was done by municipal vaccinators, and by several converted ex-inoculators. The
municipal vaccinators of Mosufferpore did very good work under the Civil Surgeon. Vac-
cination was also carried on in Durbhunga and Sarun, and in their respective subdivisions.
In Chumparun a large number of ex-inoculators were engaged in vaccination. In the
Bhagulpore division (Purneah excepted) vaccination on the self-supporting system has gained
a firm footing. The inoculators of Monghyr, Bhagulpore, and Sonthal Pergunnahs, have given
up their old calling and adopted vaccination in its stead. A large amount of work was
done in the districts of Monghyr and Bhagulpore. An inspector of licensed vaccinators
was appointed in each district to supervise the operations. Purneah is included in the
Darjeeling circle of vaccination. The municipal vaccinators did more work than in 1874.
The districts of Darjeeling and Julpigoree, in the Cooch Behar division, are both included in
the Darjeeling circle of vaccination. In Chota Nagpore self-supporting vaccination has been
established on a firm basis in the districts of Manbhoom and Singbhoom, and much credit is
due to Messrs. Wilson and Manook. In Manbhoom a large amount of good work was done
under Mr. Wilson, the Civil Surgeon, who inspected a very large number, and has evinced a most
active interest in the work of vaccination. The work in Singbhoom fell off last year owing
to several causes, which, as stated, are forcible.
Prevalence of
small-pox.
Districts round
Calcutta.
Patna, Bhagulpore,
and Chota
Nagpore.
67. Small-pox was present in many parts of the province during the past year, but,
unlike 1874, it assumed epidemic dimensions in only a few localities. In Calcutta the
disease prevailed, but not epidemically, yet causing some mortality. There were sporadic
cases of small-pox in the districts surrounding Calcutta, though they are kept well vaccinated
by the Metropolitan circles. In Bankoora and Beerbhoom the amount of disease was trifling
compared with previous years. Orissa shows some mortality from it. In the Darjeeling
circles the diminution of small-pox is very noticeable. In Eastern Bengal some districts were
almost free from the disease, but in others it prevailed largely. The disease was very
prevalent in the Patna, Bhagulpore, and Chota Nagpore divisions, and caused many hundred