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ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
DACCA DIVISION.
Dacca.—Three vaccinators were employed by the municipality on a salary of Rs. 10
per month. The vaccinators worked where they could - get parents willing to submit
their children to vaccination. The city was divided into three parts, with one vaccinator to
each, but no attempt was made to vaccinate any one part thoroughly. The total number of
vaccinations was 1,153, of which 1,134 were primary and 19 secondary cases. The number
recorded as successful was 1,065 and 10. The Civil Surgeon states that out of 1,350 births
registered during the year, 1,134 successful primary vaccinations were recorded, or 216 less
than the birth number. There was no change in the attitude of the people. Inoculation was
prohibited by law, and no instance of its practice came to the notice of the Civil Surgeon.
Furreedpore.—There was one vaccinator employed for six months by the municipality
on Rs. 10 per month. Two hundred and twenty-nine persons were vaccinated, all primary.
Of these 211 cases were found to be successful. The Civil Surgeon visited five villages and
verified 45 cases, of which he found 42 successful. He states that considerable ignorance and
prejudice yet remain as to the rites and ceremonies to be observed in vaccination. No
inoculation seems to have been practised within the area of the municipality. The Civil
Surgeon states that the amount of work done by the municipal vaccinators seems to be very
poor as compared with the money expended. He proposes that the post of municipal vaccin-
ator be abolished and the protection of the people made over to the Superintendent of
Vaccination, Eastern Bengal circle.
Goalundo.—Vaccination in Goalundo was carried on by an ex-inoculator and by the
Hospital Assistant. The total number vaccinated by them was 779, of which 574 were
reported as successful. The general vaccination of the district was conducted by the Vaccine
Department. No cases were inspected by the Civil Surgeon. The people are said to be
willing enough to accept vaccination gratis. Inoculation was not prevalent.
Backergunge.— On vaccinator, paid by the municipality, worked within the municipal
limit. 431 primary operations were performed, of which 183 were reported as successful.
The Civil Surgeon inspected 143 cases and found 95 successful. Within the municipal area
no opposition was met with, but in the district generally there was much opposition, especially
from Ferozi Mahomedans. Inoculation is said to have been extensively carried on last year.
No measures were adopted to train inoculators in the practice of vaccination.
Mymensingh.—There were two vaccinators employed for about three months by the
Nasirabad, Muktagacha, and Kishorganja municipalities. Vaccination was also performed at
all the dispensaries in the district except four by the medical officers. The two private vaccin-
ators went from village to village and effected pretty complete vaccination over a considerable
area in Tangail sub-division, comprising about 17 or 18 villages. The dispensary medical
officers vaccinated all who sought vaccination at the dispensary, and in some instances vaccin-
ated the bazars in the immediate neighbourhood. The Civil Surgeon visited seven villages,
personally vaccinated 40 persons, and inspected 89 cases, of which he found 35 and 76
respectively successful. On the whole 4,485 primary and 63 secondary operations were
performed. Of these 3,988 and 49 were said to be successful. The attitude of the people is
that of passive indifference: they do not court vaccination, but they are not at the same
time adverse to it. Inoculation was very little practised. No inoculator was trained to
vaccinate, but one man was trained in the sudder dispensary, who was ultimately employed
by the municipality.
CHITTAGONG DIVISION.
Chittagong.—During the year six vaccinators were employed—two paid by Government,
three by the Chittagong municipality, and one by the Cox's Bazar municipality.
No definite plan as to the area of operations seems to have been formed or carried out.
The two Government vaccinators were sent—one to Putteah police-station, and the other to
the Sathkania thana, in the south of the district, where an epidemic of cholera stopped his
work at an early date, and he was sent to work with the other man at Putteah. Altogether
1,257 persons were vaccinated. Of these 1,053, or 83.7 per cent., are said to be success-
ful. Dr. Wood, who assumed charge of the district on the 23rd March last, could
not find any record of cases inspected by the Civil Surgeon; but the office records showed
that he made journeys on inspection duty to Roshon Hât in Putteah police-station, and to
Rangonia tea garden in Raojan police-station. The people in the interior appeared to be
willing to be vaccinated, but much difficulty was experienced in many villages in overcoming
the prejudices of the people. The town people are still opposed to vaccination, as a rule;
but some of the most forward opponents were fined by the Magistrate, which action is said
to have had a salutary effect. Inoculation cannot be said to prevail in the face of a
mortality return of 5 deaths in the district during the year. The average of the previous four
years, the Civil Surgeon states, is 144 deaths. There are 30 or 40 inoculators available for
training. Two ex-inoculators were employed as vaccinators. Act IV (B.C.) of 1865 was
extended experimentally to the town of Chittagong for one year from about June 1879, and
the Civil Surgeon thinks might well be kept in force.
Noakholly.—Two vaccinators were employed by the municipality from November 1879
to the end of the season. The municipality altogether expended Rs. 52-14 during the
year. Vaccination was also conducted in the jail and Dalal Bazar dispensary by the
Hospital Assistant. The thanas of Lakhipore and Begumgunge, which had been partly