52
ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
case against one of the accused was dismissed, as the Magistrate was not satisfied that vaccin-
ation and not inoculation had been practised, the former having evidently been simulated.
The Superintendent is of opinion that fines in these cases are not deterrent, and that nothing
short of the infliction of the full pecuniary penalty, or the imposition of the imprisonment
provided by the law, will protect the public and cause the law to be respected This law
was brought into operation during the year in thanas Mymensing, Attia, Pingna, Mudhu-
pore, Dewangunge, and Jamalpore in the Mymensing district.
Attitude of the people towards vac¬
cination.
118. The Mahomedans generally are much opposed to vaccination, and of them the
Ferazee sect are particularly hostile to it, and no argument or
persuasion has any effect with them, their fanaticism and bigo-
try overruling every thing. No vaccinator can go into a Ferazee village and leave it without
being shockingly abused, and no single vaccinator dares to introduce vaccination
amongst them. A large proportion of the inhabitants of Eastern Bengal are of this sect;
and as they do not also receive inoculation, they form an element of ever present insecurity
against the appearance of small-pox. Among the educated classes of Hindus, the
resistance to vaccination is passive, and not always enduring, but some of them are difficult to
deal with. The objections of the ignorant and lower classes are more easily overcome, and
generally they receive vaccination simply because they believe it is the Sirkar's hukum
and they can get it gratis. The difficulties met with among this class are always traceable
to the zemindar or prodhan of the village, who discredits vaccination from a religious point
of view.
Aid given for the promotion of vaccin-
ation.
119. Excepting the interest taken in the matter by the Civil Surgeon of Mymensing and
the Assistant Surgeon in charge of the charitable dispensary,
vaccination was left to take care of itself. During the year
the Maharaja of Shursong desired to have vaccination
established in his place, and at his request vaccinators were sent there.
Prevalence of small-pox.
120. The information regarding small-pox tabulated
below has been taken from the Superintendent's report:—
Districts.
Mymensing ...
Faridpore ...
Backergunge..
Noakhalli ...
Localities.
Thanas Mymensing,
Durgapore, Jamal-
pore, Fulpore, and
Pingna.
Thanas
Polong,
Bhanga, Sibchar,and
Madaripore.
Thana Bhola ...
Thana Fenny ...
Number of vil-
lages attacked.
11
22
13
21
Number of
persons
attacked.
59
219
31
106
Number of
deaths.
9
45
4
31
Action token to arrest the disease.
One or more paid vaccinators were sent to
each place, who succeeded in arresting
the progress of the disease.
Licensed vaccinators were employed to
suppress the disease in these districts.
One paid vaccinator was employed to sup-
press the disease.
Four paid vaccinators were sent to the
place, and were still working there at the
time the Superintendent's report was
submitted (May).
The mortuary returns show that on the whole 1,593 deaths, or at the rate of .23 per
1,000 of population, occurred during the year in the area under operation, the largest
number of the casualties occurring in the months of April to July 1880, and January
February and March 1881. The localities in which the highest mortality occurred
were—
Faridpore,
thana Polong
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ditto,
ditto Bkanga
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Mymensing, ditto Jamalpore
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Deaths.
163
65
49
Ratios.
.92
.45
.27
In all the other thanas the death-rates were low, ranging from .005 to .18 per 1,000
of population.
Mortality among infants
121. The deaths among infants from all causes numbered 10,472, which gives a percent-
age of 5.13 as compared with the number born, 204,032; and
as the percentage of infants vaccinated to number born
amounts, as before shown, to 8.69, the inference is that 86.18 per cent. of the births of the
year remained unprotected.
ORISSA CIRCLE.
122. The following is a summary of the report on vaccination in the Orissa circle for
the year 1880-81, submitted by the Superintendent, Assistant Surgeon Prisitosh Haldar,
through the Civil Surgeon, Magistrate, and Commissioner. There occurred very consider-
able delay in the submission of this report. It was due on the 30th April and was
received, after several reminders, so late as the 28th of June. I should here remark that
the intermediation of the Civil Surgeon appears to be unnecessary. He is a busy officer,
and cannot have time to devote to mofussil vaccination. It would be much better if the