FOR THE YEAR 1878-79.
23
found 99.64 per cent. of successful cases. He does not anticipate such, good results during
the ensuing season, as he will have to confine himself to parts of the country which have
already been gone over.
Four inoculators in the Pubna district were prosecuted under Act IV (B.C.) of 1865—
one was fined Rs. 20 and the other three Rs. 5 each. In the Dacca district two inoculators
were fined one rupee each, two men were fined Rs. 50, and one man was imprisoned for a
month, the latter being in the opinion of Mr. Lyons the only punishment likely to prove
deterrent, and he adds—" It is, however, noteworthy that neither the village chowkidars nor
the police brought these serious infractions of the law to the notice of the Magistracy, but
I suppose there is a reason for this as for all sublunary things." The delinquents were
brought up by the vaccination establishment.
Mr. Lyons wants the title of head vaccinator changed to sub-inspector of vaccination,
and thinks that it would sound better in the ears of the native gentry whose co-operation the
head vaccinator requires. Two vaccinators were discharged—one for immoral conduct and
the other for extortion. A few others were fined lightly, but on the whole the conduct of the
establishment is considerably better than it used to be.
Apothecary A. Lyons reports regarding licensed vaccination in the Eastern Bengal
Circle.—His report reached my office on the 11th June.
In his returns he uses the terms License Agency and Honorary Agency, by the former
meaning vaccination performed by licensed vaccinators, and by the other vaccinations done by
candidates for licenses who charge no fees. What follows is taken from Mr. Lyons' report
and is in his own words.
The introduction of licenses being novel in this circle, and the field seemingly offering
fair wages for fair work, an impetus was thereby given to the scheme, and a fair number of
licensed men, amounting to 32, set out in quest of work— 23 in the Dacca, and 9 in the
Furreedpore district.
In the Dacca district 10 out of 12 thanas comprising it had the benefit of the presence
of licensed vaccinators, the number in each being as follows :—Lalbag, 2; Roopgunge, 5 ;
Harirampore, 2; Jafergunge, 2; Nawabgunge, 1; Srinagar, 3; Naraingunge, 1; Shabhar,
4; Manickgunge, 2; and Moonsheegunge, 1: in all 23
In the Furreedpore district 4 out of 13 thanas in it had nine licensed vaccinators at
work, as follows:—Pangsa2; Belgachi 3; Goalund 2; and Furreedpore 2: in all nine
men.
The work turned out by the above amounts to 34,732 persons operated on, of whom
34,552 were successful, the ratio of success being in primary cases 99.60 and in secondary
61 90. The average work per man is 1,085 and the cost 2.71 pie. The cost set down here
is the pay, &c., of two inspectors (taken for six months only) sanctioned in your budget grant,
No. 23 (medical), for 1878-79.
In view to economy the appointment of inspectors was not made till the season's work
began, hence the comparatively low rate of cost. One inspector supervised the work of the
Dacca district and another that of the Furreedpore district. In the Dacca district Inspector
Raj Mohun Malakar verified 5,682 cases, and in the Furreedpore district Inspector Baikunt-
nath Bhunik verified 5,720. I cannot say that I am satisfied with the amount of their
inspections. I also inspected the work in both districts which will be found in the table of
my inpections.
Turning now to the Honorary Agency, it will be found there were 15 such vaccinators,
chiefly at work in the Pubna district. Out of a work performed by them of 16,214 operations
(persons) 16,140 were successful, giving the high success ratio of 99.54. The average of
each man's work is 1,080. The cost to Government of this work is nil, since inspection of
it fell within the competence of the circle establishment.
Altogether 50,692 successful operations were performed by both agencies or, in other
words, by unpaid agency.
There is yet another aspect to all this which requires notice, to the amelioration of
which I earnestly beg attention—an aspect of moment, if the scheme of self-supporting
vaccination is not to prove abortive. All or very nearly all of the licensed vaccinators
have complained of their inability to recover the authorised fees, and appear to be greatly
disheartened. In all cases I advised tact, patience, and discretion ; failing in these, to sue in
the usual way in the law courts. Reiterated complaints were again made that the large
majority would not pay, and the Moonsif required the complaints to show a law empower-
ing them to recover their fees. Here, so far as I can see, matters must come to a stand.
Rather a gloomy outlook for the licensed vaccinators and little hope of success for the self-
supporting system of vaccination. Experience of the people teaches me that the day is yet
distant when the great bulk of them will consent to pay vaccination fees, at even the reduced
rates, at the time of receiving the protection. I see at present but two ways at a solution
of the matter, that is (1) compulsory vaccination, when the fees could be assimilated as nearly
as possible to those they paid previously for inoculation in money and kind to wit, a
seer of rice and from three to six pie; or (2) to circular orders to Moonsifs to decree the
fees after it is proven that the vaccination has been successful and the claim otherwise a
sound one.
The people have not as yet, in the mufussil at least, had time to recognize the benefits
of vaccination sufficiently to make them seek and pay for it. I must here repeat what
I have before said in previous reports, that the people receive vaccination not so much because