16
REPORT OF VACCINATION IN BENGAL
vaccinators, fifty vaccinators, and thirteen apprentices. The apprentices were systematically
and thoroughly taught in the theory and practice of vaccination, and not allowed to work
independently until they had proved themselves efficient. A few inoculators took service as
vaccinators after having undergone an apprenticeship.
Employment
during
non-working
season.
63. During the non-working season the vaccinators were employed in taking vaccine
census and fair copying registers. Many of them got leave for short periods, and during
September they were told off to their beats to prepare for the season's work.
Plan for the
season's work.
64. The plan for the season's work is thus detailed:—" Out of the twelve thanas of
the Dacca district, seven, viz. Naraingunge, Moonsheegunge, Srinuggur, Nawabgunge,
Hurirampore, Jaffergunge, and Manickgunge, and also a portion of Lallbagh, having been
visited in former years, it was proposed to finish this district by vaccinating the four entire
thanas, Sabar, Kapasia, Roypoor, and Roopgunge, and the remaining portion of Lallbagh.
It was also thought convenient to take those portions of Srinuggur, Nawabgunge, and
Manickgunge which remained still unprotected."
Advantage of the
aid of civil
authorities.
Conduct of the
police.
The superintendent points out how essential, in carrying out a plan of systematic and
exhaustive vaccination, the aid of the civil authorities and the police is. The civil authorities
have, I regret to say, hitherto done little or nothing to aid the operations of this circle, indeed,
have rather manifested hostility towards its proceedings During the past season some of
the police assisted; others opposed. Those who rendered assistance were Sub-Inspectors
Poorbaraj, Ram Chunder Chuckerbutty, and Ram Coomar Dutt. Those who were hostile
and obstructive, Sub-Inspectors Joy Chunder Mozumdar and Heera Lall Gooho. When
Government has sanctioned the work and much public money is being expended on it, the
least the local officers can do, I submit, is to countenance and aid it.
Aid derived from
zemindars.
Hostile zemindars.
Some zemindars also rendered aid and others opposed Among the former were conspicuous
Rai Kally Narain Bahadoor, of Bhowal pergunnah, and Baboos Mohim Chunder Mundle of
Komergah and Ishen Chunder Biswas of Bramoogah; and among the latter, Baboos Kristo
Chunder Biswas of Buktorpore, Kristo Chunder Dhur of Monsepore, Kamaroody of Patooria,
Abdool Guffoor Mea of Baloogram, Gopeenath Ghose and Ram Mohun Ghose of Kilgah.
An expression of the approbation or disapprobation of Government in these cases would
exercise a salutary effect. The gentlemen first named took a great deal of pains to commend
vaccination to their tenants, and thus performed a service of very material advantage to the
progress of vaccination in these parts.
Method of
working.
Difficulties.
65. Lymph was obtained by bringing a child from Calcutta to Goalundo at the begin-
ning of the season, and carefully propagated arm-to-arm, though considerable opposition to
the practice was encountered. The work was performed as usual by gangs, continuously and
exhaustively, as far as possible. The prevalence of cholera, the prejudices of the people, the
opposition of inoculators and others interfered, but on the whole a good measure of success
was obtained. The country was also jungly and sparsely populated, and this caused a less
outturn than might perhaps be expected, the men having to travel long distances, unable to
start for fear of wild beasts before dawn, and often compelled for want of accommodation to
seek lodgings far from the scene of their labours. Sickness also prostrated many of them
for a time.
Result of the
season's work
66. The result of the season's work is concisely summed up in the following extract
from the superintendent's report:—
Thanas protected
" Under these adverse circumstances, vaccination was carried on in a progressive and
systematic manner in all the five thanas which lie within this area: three-fourths of Sabar and
of Kapasia, five-eighths of Roopgunge,the whole of Roypoora, and the whole of that portion
of Lallbag which lies on the north of the Booregunga river, have been thoroughly protected.
" Besides this tract, the northern portion and some villages on the south of Nawabgunge,
and some of those villages of Srinuggur which had baffled all our efforts to protect them, also
those villages of Manickgunge, where fever prevailed in an epidemic form last year, have been
efficiently vaccinated.
Summary of work.
" The vaccinators visited 515 villages of Sabar, 500 villages of Roypoora, 379 villages of
Roopgunge, 278 villages of Lallbag, 252 villages of Kapasia, 140 villages of Manickgunge,
78 villages of Nawabgunge, 32 villages of Srinuggur, 3 villages of Moonsheegunge, 3 villages
of Pangsa, 2 villages of Tongawil, and 1 village of Goalundo.
" Vaccination was carried on in 2,183 villages, and the number of operations performed
amounted to 111,029 against 78,550 of 1873-74, showing: an increase of 32,479 cases."
Dispensary
vacination.
67. Adding 2,747 vaccinations performed in connection with dispensaries in the circle
(excluding the city of Dacca, the returns of which have not been received), the total of
operations amounts to 113,697, and of successful operations to 112,958.
Superintendent's
inspections.
68. The superintendent inspected the work of his establishment diligently and carefully.
He visited 523 villages and inspected 25,118 persons, working eight or nine hours daily.
The cases were compared with the register, and in each village the people were orally