ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
33
sanctioned by Government every year for vaccinating in the interior. With such a small
staff the locality protected year by year was necessarily very small and the number of
operations very few. There were 1,037 vaccinations, all primary, of which 851 were success-
ful, 179 unsuccessful or doubtful, and 7 unknown. Dr. Murray states that a great many cases
failed on account of the inefficiency of his staff, the bad lymph supplied from Calcutta,
and the resistance of the people, who are bitterly opposed to vaccination as " inoculation is par
excellence the favourite mode of protection with the Chittagongian." Dr. Murray also strongly
recommends the introduction of Act IV (B.C.) of 1865 within the Chittagong muni-
cipality. Severe epidemics of small-pox are rare, and the petty outbreaks that do occur have
in the majority of instances been traced to the activity of the inoculators, none of whom were
trained during the year under report. There was little or no small-pox in the district, and no
deaths from it occurred in the town of Chittagong for the first time on record. There were
altogether 69 deaths in the district, a large proportion of which occurred during a petty
local outbreak in the extreme south at the close of the calendar year. The disease was bad
in Cox's Bazar during March.
Noakholly.—Two municipal vaccinators were employed, one of whom was dismissed
for disobedience of orders, his place being filled up by another man who worked to the end
of the season. No Government vaccinator was entertained, the post having been abolished
in May last. The thanas of Begumgunge and Lakhipur, and those parts leading from
them to Sudharam, were selected for operation, and the work was seven times inspected
by the civil medical officer Mr. Lyons, who states that a fair amount was accomplished
considering the limited agency available and loss of time that occurred before the people
could be induced to receive vaccination. There were 3,032 cases of primary vaccination,
of which 2,909 were successful, 104 unsuccessful or doubtful, and 19 unknown. In the
mofussil among Hindus inoculation is extensively practised, but the Mahomedans generally
have a greater dislike to it than to vaccination, although intances were met with in which it
had been employed. Small-pox was more prevalent in the year under review than in the year
previous; 228 deaths were reported from it. In ten villages in Begumgunge thana, where
cases were frequent, vaccination was employed to suppress the spread of this disease, one
case of which occurred in April in the civil station.
Tipperah.—There were two vaccinators attached to the sudder station, one being paid
from the dispensary funds, and the other and the one attached to the Bramunberiah sub-
division drawing their salaries from the municipalities. All were employed throughout the
year on Rs. 10 per mensem, and during the non-vaccine season their services are utilised as
dresses and compounders in the local dispensaries. The vaccinators attached to the
Comillah dispensary and town were employed within the municipality, but during the latter
three months of the season the dispensary man was deputed to vaccinate some villages in
the interior under the jurisdiction of thana Thollah. The Bramunberiah man worked
both in and out of the municipal limits. The work in the jail and town of Comillah was
inspected by Mr. Stork, the civil medical officer, who found everything satisfactory. The
total number of operations was 3,224, of which 3,114 were successful, against 3,229 of
the previous year. Vaccination was scattered in the municipalities, but it was always con-
fined to small areas, one of which was thoroughly protected before another was begun. The
feeling and attitude of the people in favour of vaccination is gradually increasing, but
inoculation is freely practised in the interior and in all places near municipalities wherever
Act IV (B.C.) of 1865 has not been enforced. Only one inoculator consented to be trained
without receiving pay and vaccinated 183 cases during December, January, February, and
March last at Daoodkandi; but Mr. Stork has not been able to test his work. Small-pox
prevailed in several parts of the district; but not more than 1 or 2 cases occurred in each
place, and the disease disappeared of itself. Only one out of four cases in the native town
of Comillah proved fatal, and contagion from these cases was carefully guarded against.
PATNA DIVISION.
Dinapore cantonment.—Dr. Daphtary reports that one vaccinator on Rs. 10 during
the cold season and Rs. 6 during the hot months was paid from cantonment funds through-
out the year. The number of operations performed during the 12 months was 778. Several
of these cases were verified by the Superintendent and the hospital assistant in charge of
the Dinapore dispensary. No report has been received of any cases of inoculation. Small-
pox prevailed extensively at Khagoul and its neighbourhood, but the aid of the vaccinators
of the Behar circle kept the epidemic within bounds.
Patna.—There were five vaccinators attached to the Patna city dispensary who were
paid by the municipality. The head man receives a monthly stipend of Rs. 10 per mensem
both during the working and the recess season. The others are paid Rs. 8, Rs. 8, Rs. 5,
and Rs. 3 respectively during the working season. The last man was employed in vaccina-
ting the dispensary patients. Licenses were allowed to eight inoculators who are said to have
vaccinated 85 individuals. The total number vaccinated by the regular staff amounted to
1,533, showing a decrease of 551 operations when compared with the results of last year.
Small-pox prevailed to a great extent in the city; but effective measures were adopted to
stamp it out and with favorable results.
Bankipore—The Civil Surgeon reports that the municipality paid the four vaccinators.
The head vaccinator, on a salary of Rs. 10, was kept on throughout the year, but the other