42
RANCHEE CIRCLE.
Result of their
labours.
is reason to think, indeed, that their work has been more carefully done, and has been better
attended to by.the native superintendents, than has that of the regular vaccinators. The
apprentices have great inducement to exert themselves in order to obtain vaccinatorships.
The result of their labours is 17,922 cases, of which 17,667, or 99.53 per cent., were successful.
It is to be regretted that a small subsistence allowance has not yet been granted to these and
other learners; and more particularly that afterwards no proper inspection of their work
in general is possible. Such subsistence allowance and inspection were recommended by
the Surgeon-General in paragraphs 44 and 68 of last year's general report.
Inoculation.
16. Small-pox and inoculation.—There were no cases of breach of vaccine laws in
Manbhoom or in Singbhoom during the year under report. Two men were convicted in
Lohardugga district. In Hazareebagh one man was run in by the police from Goomea as
related above, and two others were shortly afterwards handed over to Mr. Campbell, the magis-
trate of Pachumba sub-division, who takes an interest in vaccination, and gave me great
assistance. These two men were detected by native superintendent Mahomed Ishak, and also
a fourth inoculator, who had been a Government vaccinator in 1867, but has since relapsed
into inoculation. Although too ill himself to walk about and operate, he got himself carried
about, and through two servants perpetrated his nefarious practice. He was too ill to bring
up for trial.
17. I think that the native superintendent in the case of these four inoculators
rendered great assistance to the cause of vaccination in the still benighted district of
Hazareebagh. There are, as has often been noticed, a considerable number of inoculators
resident in Hazareebagh zillah. Many of them, although they know very well how to
vaccinate, have plied their old trade with impunity during the past year; and I think that
I may be allowed to say that more of them might have been brought to justice, and that
the police have not been very keen in their inquiries.
18. Two hundred and thirty cases of persons recently inoculated were brought to my
notice by native superintendent Mahomed Ishak in Goomea and Pachumba but the number
of fatal cases could not be ascertained. All these cases occurred during December and
January in Hazareebagh zillah, and were seen by the native superintendent, some of them
by myself. Since the close of the season I have a report of 100 cases inoculated in Lohardugga
district, with six deaths. It is now some years since 200 cases with 12 deaths were reported
to me by one of the native superintendents as having occurred in the Tamar thana jurisdiction
of Lohardugga.
Deaths from
small-pox
throughout the
circle.
19. The number of deaths from small-pox throughout the circle during the past
year was 667, of which 338 were reported from Hazareebagh, 201 from Lohardugga, 95
from Manbhoom, and 33 from Singbhoom. Last year, 1872-73, Hazareebagh had 244 deaths,
and Lohardugga 125 ; Manbhoom and Singbhoom had also fewer deaths than this year shows.
As to this increase of small-pox in the circle during the past season, although it must be
granted that inoculation, where practised, as it has been practised in Hazareebagh zillah,
must increase the numbers killed by small-pox, still that alone would not account for the
widespread increase in Hazareebagh during the year, much less would it account for such
an increase as we have in Lohardugga and Manbhoom. The past season was evidently
a more epidemic one than its predecessor.
Most fatal
months.
20. The most fatal months were April, May, June, and March, when 351 of the deaths
took place. Next come January and February with 120 deaths; then July, August, and
September with 96, and October, November, and December with 60 October had the least
mortality, 12 deaths.
Rate of mortality
from small-pox.
The rate of mortality for the whole circle was .1072 per mille; that for the several
districts being—Hazareebagh .4378, Lohardugga .1624, Manbhoom .0924, and Singbhoom
.0746.
The above figures are founded upon the mortuary returns, but since the information for
these is collected by policemen and village chowkidars, deaths from other diseases besides
small-pox are included.
Superintendence.
21. Superintendence.—The party of Elahi Bux was visited in November, December, and
February. Mahomed Ishak's party was seen in December, January, and again in March.
The party under Mukhun Lall was visited in November, December, and March. The
number of miles travelled was 657.
The weather in February was extremely stormy and wet, an unusual thing in this circle
during that month. From this cause the men suffered considerable hardship, indeed my
tent became frequently uninhabitable, and such poor shelter had to be sought as was afforded
by the verandah of a native house, a tumble-down cooly depôt, and the like.
Cause of delay in
the submission of
the annual report.
22. After the working season was over, the office writer had a severe attack of fever
followed by ophthalmia. He had done his duties well, and given me much assistance, going
out of his way to be of service in furthering vaccination. It has been found impossible to
get an efficient substitute, and these untoward circumstances, along with my being sent on
relief duty in the end of April, from which I returned only in, the beginning of July, will,