14
REPORT OF VACCINATION IN BENGAL
errors been fairly attributable to inexperience only. He may hereafter be more successful in
a different sphere of duty.
BEHAR CIRCLE.
60. Behar Circle.—This circle, like the preceding, was sanctioned in the month of
December. The sanctioned establishment was just the same, viz. one Superintendent, five
head vaccinators, and thirty vaccinators. Assistant Surgeon Kally Das Bose, who had been
Superintendent of Vaccination in Calcutta under Dr. Charles, was appointed to the new circle
in Behar. He has submitted a detailed and interesting report. He experienced some
difficulty in procuring trained vaccinators. He got only nine trained men to go from
Calcutta to Patna, where he arrived on the 24th December, and at once established virus from
some tubes which he brought with him. Unfortunately these vesicles were scratched
and ruptured, and he had to send two boys down to Calcutta to be vaccinated, and
thus got fresh lymph for use, but losing, though quite unavoidably, some valuable time.
The Superintendent saw the civil authorities and requested their aid. He also had a Hindi
notification printed for circulation among the zemindars and influential persons, informing
them of the benefits of vaccination. Besides the nine vaccinators from Calcutta, he got five
men from other circles, and entertained some local men. The establishment consisted of
three head vaccinators, sixteen vaccinators of different grades, and five apprentices.
Sudder sub-
division.
61. The Sudder subdivision, consisting of nine thanas, and the subdivision of Dinapore
comprising the cantonment and thana, were chosen as the field of operation.
The
vaccinators were divided into gangs of six men under one head vaccinator, and systematic
vaccination of one village after another was adopted and carried out. The people
offered great resistance; the Hindoos more so than Mussulmans, who are said by the
Superintendent to be more docile there than in Calcutta. All sorts of idle and absurd
rumours -against vaccination were got up and circulated. The civil authorities rendered
every assistance in their power. The Cantonment Magistrate of Dinapore, Colonel Emerson,
gave material assistance in furthering the work of vaccination.
The total number vaccinated was 4,328, with a success of 87.45 per cent. in primary
cases and 27.77 in re-vaccination.
Cost of each
successful case.
The average number done by each man was 270, and the cost of each successful case
was Re. 0-6-3. The low rate of success is explained (1) by the inexperience of several
vaccinators, and (2) and chiefly by the prejudices of the people, who would not allow lymph
to be taken from the arms of the vaccinated children. He was obliged to use crusts in many
cases. The Superintendent inspected 3,677 and verified 92.15 per cent. of success.
Sporadic cases
of small-pox.
62. Some sporadic cases of small-pox were reported, as well as measles and chicken-
pox, which prevailed a great deal more than true variola. Inoculation is practised among
the people. The inoculators came from Tirhoot in large numbers, and spread themselves
over the different districts. The Superintendent employed four of them as apprentices,
and four as Government apprentices To 19 inoculators he granted certificates to practise
vaccination on their own account. Five of them showed their work to him, the rest never
made their appearance, and the Superintendent fears they might have practised inoculation
clandestinely. They should be searched out and compelled to give up their certificates,
which they have not improbably abused.
Municipal
vaccination.
63. Municipal vaccinations were done in Patna and Bankipore under the immediate
supervision of the Superintendent, while at Behar and Barrh the assistant surgeons in
charge of the dispensaries supervised the operations. The work in Behar was inspected and
found to be very unsatisfactory : at Barrh it was better.
64. Baboo Kally Dass Bose is reported on very favourably by Dr. Simpson, the Civil
Surgeon of Patna. He applied himself to his duties with zeal and intelligence ; and though
the amount of his work has not been great, it was not through any lack of energy and indus-
try on his part, but on account of the operations being carried on in a new field, and among
a prejudiced and ignorant people.
DISPENSARY
VACCINATION.
65.Hooghly, and Howrah Dispensary Vaccination.—Under this head are included the vaccinations
by vaccinators attached to dispensaries and municipalities, and also by all ex-inoculators and
private practitioners who submitted returns of their work. The details of the work are fully
given in table No. V.; and the abstracts of the reports submitted by Civil Surgeons, which
have been compiled with great care, give a clear and complete view of what has been done in
each district. I shall here briefly draw attention to the state of vaccination in each district,
following the order in which they have been arranged in the table and abstract.
Burdwan division.
Baukoora.
66. Commencing with the Burdwan division, three of the districts comprised
in it—Burdwan, Hooghly, and Howrah—are included in the area of the Metropolitan
circles, and are maintained in a high state of protection. In addition several munici-
palities entertained vaccinators who did good work under the supervision of Civil Surgeons
and their assistants. The other three districts—Bankoora, Midnapore, and Beerbhoom—
are not included in any vaccine circle. In Bankoora a system of self-supporting vaccin-
ation has been organized, and a large number of ex-inoculators were employed under
thorough and complete supervision. The amount of work done exceeded that of the
previous year, and the experiment may so far be considered a success. But, as pointed