METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
23
practised more or less in most of the north-eastern thanas of the 24-Pergunnahs, and gave
rise to small-pox, which is still (May 1874) going on. The vaccinators are still at work in
those places, doing their best to stamp out the outbreaks.
2nd Metropolitan
circle.
8. The 2nd Metropolitan circle.—To the deputy superintendent of this circle,
1st Grade Assistant Surgeon Buddy Nath Brummo, were assigned the following thanas in the
Hooghly district to be gone over a second time, viz. Dhunniakhally, Pundooah, Bansberiah,
Hooghly, Buddyabattee, Hurripal, Chunditollah, and Kistonugger. The gang that worked in
thana Dhunniakhally suffered very severely from fever, from the headman to the peon.
Three first class vaccinators completely broke down and left the place. The other gangs
working in thanas Pundooah, Bansberiah, and Hooghly, did not suffer much so long as they
worked within those thanas, but when they proceeded to Hurripaul and Chunditollah they
too began to suffer severely from fever. Some of the vaccinators became so ill that they had
to be sent home. In this manner every gang was deprived of the services of two or three
first class vaccinators. As fever was very prevalent at that time in the Hooghly district, the
vaccinators suffered as much as the villagers. If it were not for the daily use of quinine, with
which they were plentifully supplied, the vaccinators would not have been able to work at all.
The great prevalence of fever among the vaccinators and the people interfered considerably
with the work of this circle. The total number vaccinated by them has fallen short
by upwards of 16,000, and the decrease is sufficiently accounted for by several causes. The
first and principal was the great prevalence of fever among the vaccinators and also among
the people; secondly, the thanas assigned to this circle were once vaccinated before, and
consequently the number of subjects requiring protection were not very large ; thirdly, the
deputation of a gang of vaccinators to Bankoora to stamp out small-pox at the very height
of the season. These three causes would satisfactorily account for the decrease of work done
by the 2nd circle. The vaccinators of this circle have, however, done their best. One
gang, under head vaccinator Chunder Mohun Gangooly, deserves great credit for having
succeeded in vaccinating several villages in thana Chunditollah that had refused to take it
four years ago. The Mookerjee family of Jonye, who are great zemindars, and who also
belong to the highest order of Coolin Brahmins, refused to take vaccination when thana
Chunditollah was first undertaken in 1869-70. In consequence several villages round about
Jonye followed suit and did not take. This year Deputy Superintendent Baboo Buddy Nath
Brummo got an educated gentleman, Baboo Wooma Churn Mitter, of Buxa, near Jonye, and
others, to use their influence with the Mookerjee Baboos, and vaccinator Ramgopal Mitter
beseiged them with his constant importunities. The consequence was that after three months'
persistent efforts the vaccinators succeeded in bringing them round. When this was known,
all the surrounding villages quietly followed their example and accepted vaccination.
Area.
The area of the country assigned to the 2nd circle is 688 square miles, with a
population of 658,081, or, taking the vaccinated villages situated in some adjoining thanas,
the population would amount to 660,000. The vaccinators visited 1,282 villages and
vaccinated 57,937 persons, of whom the deputy superintendent inspected 42,307, or
73.19 per cent.
Degree of
protection afforded
by 2nd circle.
Degree of protection afforded.—The degree of protection afforded by the 2nd circle
to the thanas that had been assigned to them is as follows :—Thanas Pundooah, Bansberiah,
and Hooghly, have been thoroughly protected a second time, excepting a few Mahomedan
families at village Pundooah. Thanas Dhunniakhally, Hurripal, Chunditollah, and Buddya-
battee, have been re-vaccinated, excepting the portions indicated in the accompanying sketch
map. Some of these portions have, however, been protected by three barber vaccinators,
who practise the art on their own account. The 2nd circle vaccinators have also vaccinated
in 28 villages in the Burdwan district and 18 villages in the Howrah district.
3rd circle.
The 3rd Metropolitan circle.—To the deputy superintendent of this circle, 1st Grade
Assistant Surgeon Jadub Chunder Ghose, Rai Bahadoor, were assigned the following
thanas, viz. Bullaghur in Hooghly, Culna, Gangooriah, Montessur, Burdwan and portions
of Cutwa, Selimabad, Khundghose and Roynah in the Burdwan district, and thanas
Oolooberiah and Shampore in Howrah.
In the month of July small-pox was reported from thana Aousgram, in Burdwan, when
a gang under head vaccinator Romanath Ghosal was at once sent to stamp out the out-
break. This was in a manner the commencement of the last season in the district of
Burdwan. During the months of August and September the gang vaccinated nearly all
the unprotected villages in thana Aousgram, and also a few unprotected ones in thana
Munglecote, though there still remain a few villages in both the thanas to be yet protected.
In the month of October the gang proceeded to thana Cutwa to vaccinate its southern half,
which had been left unprotected in season 1871-72. After doing Cutwa they came southward
into thana Montessur. Three years ago an attempt was made to vaccinate this last thana,
but without success. Head vaccinator Romanath Ghosal, and first class vaccinator Woomesh
Chunder Chuckerbutty, deserve great credit for having this year successfully vaccinated
Montessur and all the surrounding villages.