FOR THE YEAR 1874-75
11
Greater fatality of
small-pox in the
hills.
Delay in reporting
outbreaks.
disease also prevailed in certain tea gardens, Tukvar, Tukdah, and Phoolsering, in the Darjeeling
district, having been imported from Nepal Vaccination was immediately and energetically,
resorted to, and the disease thus prevented from spreading. In all 72 cases with 36 deaths
occurred. Dr. Lidderdale remarks on the greater fatality of the disease in the hills and
among hill races, and attributes it to the lower degree of civilization of these tribes. The
climate and habits of the people have also no doubt some influence in producing this result. In
the plains vaccination was resorted to whenever a report of small-pox was received, but
intimation of outbreaks is often so tardily given by the police, that it is difficult either to
discover their cause or limit their spread
Licensed
vaccinators.
Importance of
instruction and
supervision.
38. Dr. Lidderdale was unable to procure "inspectors of licensed vaccinators" on
account of the small pay which he was authorised to offer. This has now been increased, and
it is hoped that he will experience no difficulty in getting suitable men for the important duty
next season; for, as he truly indicates, the two most important points connected with
a scheme of licensing vaccinators who may practice as private vaccine practitioners are instruc-
tion and supervision. Without these no system of self-supporting vaccination can be
expected to succeed. There seems, in the Darjeeling circle, to be no lack of candidates for
licenses, and under Dr. Lidderdale's active and conscientious supervision the system promises
in time to work well.
Supplies of
lymph.
39. Supplies of lymph were furnished by the Darjeeling circle to several regimental
and civil surgeons.
General conclusion.
40. On the whole the report of the past season indicates marked progress, and much
credit is due to Dr Lidderdale for the energy and thoroughness with which he applies
himself to his important duties.
RANCHEE CIRCLE.
Superintendence
Establishment.
Apprentices.
41. Ranchee Circle— Surgeon J. J. Wood, M. B., superintendent.—The sanctioned estab-
lishment consists of three native superintendents and twenty vaccinators. Several apprentices,
or " oomedwars," worked with the gangs during the past season, and, in addition to the
regular establishment, a large amount of vaccination was accomplished by ex-inoculators
and Christian vaccinators, as detailed below.
Programme of the
season's work.
42. The regular establishment was as usual divided into three gangs, and the follow-
ing programme, after approval by the commissioner, was drawn up for the season's
operation:—
" One party was appointed to finish Tamar thana of Lohardugga district and
proceed westward, and then to finish Kasmar thana of Hazareebagh district and proceed
westward into Hazareebagh thana; the third to work from Bugodur thana of Haza-
reebagh district northward into Pachumba sub-division." The operations thus projected
were intended to be in continuation of the proceedings of the previous season.
Amount of work
actually done.
Frist party.
Second party.
Third party
43. The intentions of the superintendent were not entirely realized. The first party
did well. Tamar was completely vaccinated, all the people submitting, except the Rajah of
Tamar's son. The Tarpa thana was skipped over, because several Christian vaccinators
and some ex-inoculators and apprentices were at work there, and vaccination was set up in
the Basia thana beyond A section of the party also worked in the Chuckurdarpore thana
of the Smgbhoom district. The second party completed Bagodur thana and vaccinated
in addition part of the Pachumba thana. The third party lost time owing to the mis-
conduct of the native superintendent, who had eventually to be dismissed. Kasmar thana
was finished, however, and a good deal of work done in the Hazareebagh thana.
Cause of decicase
of work.
Increased cost and
lower ratio of
success.
44. The outturn of the season was less than that of the preceding season on account partly
of the occupation of the assigned field by other agencies, and partly because of the mis-
management of one of the native superintendents. The same causes explain the increase
of cost of each successful case. The lower ratio of success is due to the large number of
hot-weather vaccinations—4,575, with a percentage of 92.87 successful cases—required on
account of small-pox.
Sketch of the state
45. The following information regarding the important subject of self-supporting
vaccination, is extracted in full from the superintendent's report:—
Chota Nagpore.
Manbhoom and
Singbhoom
" The progress of vaccination within the Ranchee circle has been different in different
quarters. Thus in Manbhoom and Singbhoom, where the hereditary baids, or inoculators, are
found to be sufficiently numerous if they could be got to work with any amount of
diligence, they have done something in the right direction; and under the encouraging
auspices of Captain Money and Mr. Wilson in Manbhoom, of Mr. Manook in Singbhoom, and
of other officers interested in vaccination, much sound vaccination has been procured for these
two districts.
Available agency.
Work already
done.
" The number of inoculators on the register in Manbhoom and Singbhoom together is
151, of whom about 37 are annually engaged in vaccination; a few others come from without.
The number of people vaccinated by this unpaid agency in these districts of Manbhoom and
Singbhoom in the last five years is 90,092.
Hazareebagh.
"11. A very different state of vaccination affairs is to be found in the Hazareebagh district,
where, although a race of hereditary inoculators did exist, they were neither so numerous nor
of such high caste, malis and vermillion-sellers taking the place here of the Puruha
Brahmin inoculators or pandas.