22
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BENGAL
Attitude of the people.—In the Sonthal Pergunnahs district with the exception of
Moithils and a class of Sonthals called Kherwors, others are more docile; while in Bhagul-
pore and Monghyr people are very backward in accepting vaccination. Inoculation is
still practised in Bhagulpore and Monghyr, but not in the Sonthal Pergunnahs.
Small-pox was very prevalent in Bhagulpore and Monghyr. 1,958 cases were reported
from the different thanas of the Bhagulpore district with 22 deaths, and 53 cases from
Khuruckpore and Chuckie thanas of the Monghyr district with 8 deaths. The origin
of the disease appears to have been from the evil practice of inoculation. In the Sonthal
Pergunnahs district 94 cases were reported from Rajmehal with 14 deaths, and 17 cases
from Deogurh and Godda, but no deaths, and none from other sub- divisions. In most of
the places the disease was suppressed by vaccination.
In Bhagulpore and Monghyr the disease has not yet disappeared.
Behaviour of the establishment.—The establishment, with the exception of a few, has
worked satisfactorily. In the face of so much opposition and interference, it is to their zeal
and energy the result of the year is due.
The following is an abstract of the report as to the working of the ex-inoculators
attached to the Sonthal Pergunnahs.
The Deputy Superintendent, at the instance of the Magistrate of Bhagulpore, granted
licenses to a few ex-inoculators who asked for them in February. They were trained and
placed under inspectors for the proper supervision of their work.
In the Sonthal Pergunnahs there were 13 applicants for licenses, some new and some
old, who were placed under the head vaccinator for inspection. The ex-inoculators of
Monghyr worked under the Civil Surgeon. It is stated that the total number who were
employed was 15—6 worked at Bhagulpore, 7 at Godda, 1 at Rajmehal, and 1 at Deoghur.
They vaccinated 3,942 in 102 villages, of whom 3,924 were returned as successful, and 18 as
unsuccessful or doubtful. Thus the percentage was 99.54, which seems to me to be a success
too favorable, and also an indication of the necessity for any close supervision over these
ex-inoculators. The sort of vaccination insisted on was on the upper arm, and by means
of four and two points, and from arm-to-arm. The Deputy Superintendent inspected 635
cases, of which 616 were successful, or 97 per cent., which shows that the ex-inoculators did
not make true returns as I have above. The inspectors verified 425 cases, and say they
found 98.38 per cent. of successful cases.
Assistant Surgeon Mothooranath Sen complains of the ex-inoculators and the way
they interfere with the work of the regular circle, especially in Monghyr. Such men he
suggests should be placed under the inspectors, and there is not any doubt that if this is
not done, vaccination will never be conducted in that or any other district. Besides which,
inoculation being so much more easily carried on, ex-inoculatiors have a strong tendency to
return to its practice.
The seventh annual report of the Eastern Bengal circle, prepared by Apothecary A. Lyons,
reached my office on the 13th June. The permanent establishment under the operation of
orders for retrenchment by the Government of Bengal was reduced from 36 to 18 vaccinators,
and the extra establishment from 36 to 32. But two inspectors were added with the view
of introducing the self-supporting system of vaccination by means of licensed vaccinators.
Work was commenced in October in five of the eight thanas composing the district of
Pubna, viz. Pubna, Dulai, Mothura, Chalmohar, and Shahazadpore. The district of
Furreedpore having once been gone over, it was not deemed necessary to maintain vaccination,
except in thanas Goalund, Pansa, Belgachi, and Furreedpore, but finding by the end of
December that few operations were performed, the men employed in these thanas took
up work in thana Roygunge in Pubna. At Dacca the men of the paid establishment
vaccinated in thanas Lalbag, Naraingunge, Shubhar, and Roopgunge. There were besides
23 licensed vaccinators spread over the district. By the end of December little had been
done, and the paid establishment therefore joined the party working at Royunge.
The establishment consisted of a superintendent and his deputy, 2 newly appointed
inspectors, 6 head vaccinators, 18 permanent vaccinators, 29 extra vaccinators, and 21
apprentices. There were three extra and three apprentice vaccinators short of the sanc-
tioned establishments, but there were not men to fill these places available. A number of the
trained vaccinators became licensed vaccinators. There were 184,854 cases against 150,915
in 1877-78, or an increase of 33,939 during the following year. The cost of each successful
case was 11 pie against 15 pie the year before. On an average each vaccinator operated
in 2,532 cases against 1,910 the year before, being an increase of 622 each man. Much
and strong opposition was met with in the Pubna district at first, but after the
introduction of Act IV (B.C.) of 1865 matters were considerably improved, and the
people submitted to vaccination much more readily. Mahomedans were more willing to
be vaccinated than Hindoos, which the past experience of Mr. Lyons did not lead him to
anticipate. Towards the close of the season thanas Chalmohur and Shahazadpore in
Pubna having been finished, the vaccinators from those places were sent to Ullapara,
and Serajgung, " which with Roygunge has been tolerably protected." In thanas " Pubna
Dulai, Mothura, Chalmohur, and Shahzadpore all who could be got to accept vaccination
have been vaccinated, concentration of work being always had in view." The vaccinators
visited 1,607 villages in Pubna, 264 in Furreedpore, 166 in Dacca, and 7 in Backergunge
where two men worked under the Civil Surgeon of that district. The Superintendents
verified 25,275 cases in 175 villages in the districts of Pubna, Furreedpore, and Dacca, and