ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
31
Sonthal Pergunnahs District.—Dr. Ahmed, the Officiating Civil Surgeon, thus remarks on
the proceedings of the trained inoculators:—
Agency.
There were no vaccinators attached to the dispensaries; the work was chiefly done by the
ex-inoculators. The largest number of these men were Bengalees, either residents of the district or residents
of the neighbouring district—Sonthals and Jadapatias . The real natives of the place were but few, and
they as a rule did not work the whole season, and they could not submit big returns like that of the
Bengalee inoculators.
Plan of work.
In the early part of the season I granted perwanas to all the ex-inoculators who were at work during
the previous year, but I soon found out that several of these men, under the protection of my perwanas,
went to the villages and practised inoculation. Almost all the rest were not quite up to their work, and
practised vaccination on the fore-arm, and only in one or two places (in each case) like that of inoculation.
In many cases the vaccine vesicles were not so satisfactory. Seeing this unsatisfactory state of things,
I stopped granting perwanas to any one without giving thorough instruction in the practice of vaccination.
This I could do very satisfactorily from January, by sending all who applied to learn to work under one
of the Government vaccinators.
As the ex-inoculators are not paid anything by Government, and as they had to depend entirely on
the fees of their clients, it was impossible to define the area of their operations, but they were allowed to
vaccinate wherever they expected most success. Wherever vaccination was conducted, the whole village
or villages were thoroughly protected by the same inoculators.
Season's work.
The following statement shows the amount of work performed during the year as compared with
1873-74:—
Number of ex-inoculators ... ... ...
Total number vaccinated ... ... ...
Ditto
of successful cases ... ... ...
Percentage of successful cases ... ... ...
Inspected cases ...
Total number inspected by the
Civil Surgeon ... ... ...
1 Percentage of successful cases in-
spected by the Civil Surgeon ...
1873-74
59
11,837
10,785
94.1
374
57.4
1874-75.
44
16,583
14,768
92.6
4,526
95.55
It will appear from the above statement that the number of ex-inoculators who submitted returns
during the season was 44, against 59 of the previous year, and that the amount of work performed has
largely increased. The total number of cases inspected by the Civil Surgeon was 4,526, against 374 in
1873-74. The work of fifteen ex-inoculators was seen in the sub-division of Doomka: 3,667 vaccinations were
seen, of which only 150 were unsuccessful. The work of two men in Godda was also inspected,—859 cases,
of which 812 were successful. The Native Doctor of Jamtara inspected the work of the men vaccinating
there, and found it satisfactory.
Attitude of the
people.
Vaccination being a novelty with the people of the interior of the district, a good deal of prejudice
and opposition is still to be encountered. In 1873 there was an outbreak of small-pox in the Doomka
bazaar, and all the persons were protected by vaccination, except that of the Kaporeahs and the
Marwarries, the number of which men was twice as much as all the rest together. In the early part
of this season there was again an attempt made to protect them by vaccination, but without any success,
as these men never allow either to vaccinate or to inoculate their children. But at the close of the season,
with the assistance of the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Extra Assistant Commissioner of Doomka,
I have succeeded in protecting the bazaar by vaccination. This will have a great effect in removing the
prejudice of the people in the interior of the sub-division for the progress of vaccination.
Inoculation.
Small-pox.
Prizes and
subsistence
allowance
recommended.
Dr. Ahmed reports that inoculation is still practised, and that efforts to punish inoculators
have not been very successful. He gives a return of 509 cases with 13 deaths. The preva-
lence of small-pox has already been described in the summary of operations of the circle.
The Civil Surgeon concludes a very careful report by recommending prizes to be given to the
most industrious and successful workers. He also thinks a subsistence allowance should be
given while the men are being taught.
COOCH BEHAR DIVISION.
Darjeeling.
Julpigoree.
Reports not received.
Municipal
vaccination
Inoculation and
small-pox
Ex-inoculators.
Hasareebagh District.—Dr. Birch reports that there are no public vaccinators attached to
this district, but that the municipality have voted a grant for the entertainment of one for
the town for the ensuing year. Inoculation is very prevalent, and small-pox is consequently
always present more or less; " but the mortality would seem to be very low." Several inocu-
lators were examined and granted passes during the year. These men work under the orders
of the Superintendent of the Ranchee Vaccine Circle, and submit their returns to that officer.
Dispensary
vaccinator.
Feeling of the
people.
Lohardugga District.—The head-quarters of the Ranchee circle of vaccination are located
in this district. In addition to the men who work under the orders of the Superintendent of
the Circle, there is one vaccinator paid from dispensary funds under the control of the Civil
Surgeon. This man confined his operations to the town of Ranchee and its immediate
neighbourhood, and his work was verified by the Civil Surgeon two or three times a week.
Dr. Hoskins reports that opposition is decreasing in Ranchee, but that in the sub-division of
Palamow it is as great as ever.
Ex-inoculators.
Singbhoom District.—This
district also forms part of the Ranchee Circle, but vaccination
is principally carried on through the agency of ex-inoculators, who charge their own fees.
Regarding the work of these men the Civil Surgeon, Mr. Manook, writes—
Number.
Mode of working.
There are now 55 ex-inoculators on the register, of whom three were registered during the year.
Two came from Midnapore with the Civil Surgeon's certificate that they were qualified to vaccinate, and