ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
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successfully vaccinated was 189,872, against 184,269 in 1878-79, or an increase of 5,603 suc-
cessful operations. The ratio of success is almost the same as that of last year, viz. 99.62,
against 99.71; and the average number of successful operations per vaccinator is 3,391, against
2,532 in the previous year. In the districts of Backergunge, Dacca, and Furreedpore regular
season operations were not carried out by the paid establishment, but in the latter two
districts regular season operations were made by the license agency, of which a separate
report is submitted by the Superintendent.
Backergunge.—The Superintendent reports that in March last a small gang, consisting
of one head and two ordinary vaccinators, was supplied on the requisition of the Civil Surgeon
of Backergunge, but was sent back by that officer and the Magistrate owing to strong and
inveterate opposition by the sect of " Ferozis," who abound in Backergunge. The party,
after passing 44 days in that district, succeeded in vaccinating only 224 persons.
Pubna.—Mr. Lyons states that the district of Pubna is now fairly well protected. The
success of the operations in 1878-79 paved the way to large numbers in 1879-80. He
reports that the police in Pubna (sudder thana) sent in an alarming report to the effect that
small-pox had supervened on receiving vaccination, which was proved on enquiry to be
utterly false.
Average cost.—The average cost of successful cases was 11.31 pies, against 11.27 pies in
the previous year.
Inspection. —The establishment visited 2,138 villages, against 2,044 in the previous year,
viz. in Pubna 1,231, Mymensingh 850, Furreedpore 38, Dacca 14, and in Backer-
gunge 5.
The Superintendent visited 159 villages and carefully inspected the arms of 17,720
persons, against 175 and 25,166 respectively in the preceding year. The ratio of successful
cases found by him was 99.40, against 99.64 in 1878-79. The reason assigned for the
decrease in the number of his inspections was that much time was lost in traversing a
larger area.
The Deputy Superintendent, who was ineffective from sickness for half the season, is
said to have visited 63 villages and to have inspected 8,468 cases.
Inspecting agency, insufficiency of.—The Superintendent draws attention to the numerical
weakness in the inspecting agency of his circle, and proposes to submit a sketch hereafter
for consideration, with a view to the supervising staff of the circle being placed on a sound
footing.
Mymensingh.—In Mymensingh work was carried on in thanas Atia and Madhupore,
in both of which, however, much remains to be done.
Conduct of establishment.—The conduct of establishment on the whole is reported to have
been fairly good. Two head vaccinators had been found guilty of making false entries, &c.,
and were degraded. The case of the third is still in abeyance. Mr. Lyons states that the
pay of this class of responsible public servants is not sufficient to attract a better stamp
of men.
Statistics of Small-pox.—Two statements, showing the recoveries and deaths from small-
pox, are submitted by the Superintendent. He is of opinion that as data for scientific
deduction they are of little or no value, owing to the impenetrable reserve maintained by
the natives of Bengal in all domestic concerns, and to the spirit in which they receive any
inquisitorial steps for statistical purposes.
Inoculation—Penalties inflicted for non-observance of Act IV of 1865.—The Superin-
tendent brings to notice several cases of infractions of Act IV (B.C.) of 1865. Fines varying
from Rs. 5 to Rs. 50 were levied on 29 persons in the districts of Furreedpore and Dacca. One
of these was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment and to a fine of Rs. 10. On the inade-
quacy of the sentence the Superintendent writes—" The punishments do certainly appear to
me to be not deterrent. Unless the full provisions of the law on the subject are enforced,
inoculation will continue to be practised. The wealthy and well-to-do, in whose pay the
inoculators generally are, pay the fines imposed. Not a single case amongst the foregoing was
brought to notice either by the village chowkidar or police. This is suggestive."
Assistance rendered by Government servants.—The Superintendent acknowledges the
valuable assistance received by him from the sub-divisional officers of Serajgunge and
Madaripore.
Extension of Act IV of 1865 to certain thanas in Mymensingh.—Mr. Lyons recommends
extension of the provisions of Act IV (B.C.) of 1865 to the following thanas in Mymensingh,
where it is proposed to employ the paid establishment during the ensuing season, viz. Atia,
Madhupore (Gopalpore), Puigna, Jamalpore, Dewangunge, and Mymensingh.
LICENSE AGENCY OPERATIONS.
License and honorary agencies.—In his report Mr. Lyons explains that the terms
" license agency" and " honorary agency" mean men working for fees under a license,
and work done by candidates chiefly in the hope of finding employment in the paid
agency.
Establishment.—There are two Inspectors for inspecting the license agency operations
and for supervising the work of the honorary or unpaid agency3
Working of the season.—The aggregate of the operations performed by the two agencies
amounts to 115,544, against 50,946 in the preceding year. Of these 114,352 were successful,