FOR THE YEAR 1878-79.
21
The establishment consisted of 1 Deputy Superintendent, 3 head vaccinators and
18 ordinary vaccinators for the Sonthal Pergunnahs district, and 3 temporary inspectors
and 18 vaccinators for Bhagulpore and Monghyr. The temporary establishment was
retained from the 15th October 1878, leaving the post of one inspector and six vaccinators
unoccupied for want of competent men to fill up. Of the permanent staff, one vaccinator
being taken up seriously ill took leave for a month in October and did not return.
Non-working season.—During the recess, to keep up lymph for the season's work and
for stamping out small-pox, 972 cases were vaccinated at Rajmehal, of which 964 cases
proved successful. The unsuccessful and doubtful together were six, and the result was
unknown in two. Thus the percentage of success was 99.38.
Vaccinating season.—The vaccinators were divided into gangs of six in each, and in con-
tinuation with the last year's work were placed at Godda, Deoghur, Bhagulpore, and
Monghyr, under the superintendence of the inspectors and head vaccinators They at
first met with much opposition, but gradually as it was becoming less, ex-inoculators came in
and impeded much the progress of the work.
Godda.—Two gangs were employed in this sub-division, and operations were carried on
in pergunnah Monihary and Pussye in continuation with that of last year, and thus the
protected areas in this sub-division were joined on the east with those of Rajmehal and on
the north-west with those of Bhagulpore. The result of the work here would have been far
better were it not for the opposition on the part of the Moithils and a class of Sonthals called
Kherwors. In the face of this disadvantage, however, 8,837 cases were vaccinated in 141
villages by the circle staff. The number successful was 8,806. The unsuccessful and
doubtful together were 31. The percentage of success was therefore 99.64.
Deoghur.—In October two gangs were sent to this sub-division, but no sooner had they
reached the place, then the ex-inoculators came in numbers and interfered much with this
work; nay, so much so, that at the latter end of November it was necessary to remove one
gang to Godda. The vaccinators employed here had to carry on their work under great
difficulties owing to the people preferring their old gurues (ex-inoculators). Most part of
this sub-division was protected by the ex-inoculators in previous years, with the exception
of a part of thana Modhupore. The paid men and the licensed vaccinators have gone
over the unprotected area, and thus the whole sub-division was protected, and the work was
extended on the south to Jamtara and on the north to thana Chukie of the Monghyr
district. In all 141 villages were visited by the circle staff, and 3,073 cases were vaccinated,
of which 3,038, or 99.67 per cent., were successful.
Jamtara.—In January two vaccinators were employed, and operations were carried on
in the north of the sub-division in continuation with those of Deoghur. The number of
villages visited was 64, and the number vaccinated was 2,069, of which 2,029, or 99.60 per
cent., were successful.
Rajmehal.—Three vaccinators were employed for two months to protect a few villages
at Dearah. They have gone over 91 villages and have vaccinated 3,915 cases, of which
3,906, or 99.79 per cent., proved successful.
Bhagulpore.—Two gangs were employed in this district, one at Banka and the other
at Bhagulpore, and the operations were carried on by the former in thanas Banka, Amirpore,
and in Kotoria outpost, while by the latter in thanas Bhagulpore and Colgong. The
outbreaks of small-pox have interfered much with the regular progress of their works,
and the opposition from the people was great. The vaccinators have gone over 350 villages
and have vaccinated 12,624 primary cases, of which 12,563, or 99.54 per cent, were success-
ful, and 46 secondary cases, of which 23, or 50 per cent., were successful.
Monghyr.—One gang was employed in this district, and operations were carried on
in thanas Khurrukpore and Chukie, in continuation with the Amirpore thana of the
Bhagulpore district. The number of villages visited was 222 and the number vaccinated
was 5,723, of which 5,712, or 99.93 per cent., were successful. The smallness in the number
was owing to the villages having been protected by inoculation in later years, and the
outbreaks of small-pox have much interfered with the works. The interference of the
ex-inoculators was not also the less.
The total number of persons vaccinated during the year amounts to 36,287, against
28,240 of the previous year. The number successful was 36,077, against 27,957, the
percentage of success being 99.41 against 99.39. The cost of each successful case has been
2 annas 6 pie against 2 annas 7 pie. Each vaccinator on an average vaccinated
1,036, against 75.7 in the preceding year. Thus there has been, as compared with the year
1877-78, an increase of 8,047 persons vaccinated and of 8,120 successful vaccinations—
a rise by 2 in the percentage of success and a reduction of one pie in the cost of each
successful case There has also been an increase of 279 in the number of cases vaccinated
by each vaccinator.
Of the total 36,287 cases, 36,241 were primary vaccinations, of which 36,054, or 99.67
per cent., were successful, and 46 re-vaccinations, of which 23, or 50 per cent, were successful.
Inspection.—The number of cases verified by the Deputy Superintendent was 10, 241.
The number of villages inspected by the Deputy Superintendent was 208, and the
number of persons examined 9,603, of whom 9,506 were successful cases.The ratio of
success was 98.98 against 99.67 in the general return.
The inspectors have verified 10,049 cases, of which 10,001 were successful. The per-
centage of success was therefore 99.51. Inspector Aughore Nath Sirkar has worked
zealously and well.