FOR THE YEAR 1878-79
19
worked in the south-west portions of Manbhoom district in thanas Jeypore, Jhulda,
Bagmoondee, Patkoom, and a portion of Purulia. Great opposition was encountered from the
zemindar of Jeypore, where all attempts to introduce vaccination had failed in previous years
as in 1870-71, 1871-72. Ex-inoculators had also tried but failed, but in December last the
resistance was overcome and the town of Jeypore itself furnished 575 cases. The people of
Nagda also opposed the vaccinators, and it is most probable that, but for the assistance of the
district officers, all efforts to introduce the prophylactic would have failed as signally in
1878-79 as in previous years. The number of operations performed by the party was 23,727,
of which 22,991 were successful, or 93.25 per cent. The number of villages protected was
505. Dr. Basu speaks highly of the exertions of the inspecting vaccinator and of the men
under him. It is said that one vaccinator, Mahomed Mustapha Khan, did 4,236 cases, of
which 3,993 were successful. None of this party were reported for taking pice. They were
inspected twice in November and twice in December by the Deputy Superintendent, thrice
in January, twice in February, and thrice in March by Dr. Basu, and twice in March by the
Deputy Superintendent.
Hazaribagh.—A superintending vaccinator with seven vaccinators and two apprentices
were sent to protect a part of the district which includes portions of thanas Bagoodar,
Doomree, and Pachumba, an area of about 700 miles. When Dr. Basu arrived at a village
called Ulkachutty, on the 14th November, it was found that only about 60 operations had
taken place, of which nearly the half were unsuccessful. Having secured that a better
supply of lymph was used and fined several of the party he, left, but returned to the party
on the 6th December and found that good work had been got through, but they complained
of the sturdy opposition of the people at a village named Dhurgoobi to which Dr. Basu
went with the party, spoke to the people, and next morning had the satisfaction of seeing
200 children vaccinated in his presence. The people of Pachumba objected to have
vaccination from Government vaccinators and hence ex-inoculators had to be appointed to
protect them. The circle vaccinators then proceeded to Seerampore where the Deputy
Commissioner was at the time, and, owing to his presence and countenance, they were able to
introduce vaccination for the first time. The total work amounted to 8,533 cases, 8,134 of
these being successful, or 93.09 per cent. Each vaccinator on an average did 1,219 cases, and
the number of villages protected was 175. The party was inspected once in November,
thrice in December, and twice in March by the Superintendent, and once in February and
twice in March by the Deputy Superintendent.
A fifth party, consisting of seven vaccinators and two apprentices, under a superintending
vaccinator, worked in the portions of the Hazaribagh district included in the Gadees,
Kodurna, Domechanch, Dorunda, and Beria, or an area of about 670 spuare miles. At
Domechauch the operations of 1877-78 were brought to a standstill owing to the opposi-
tion of the zemindar who, however, promised that during the next year he would
support vaccination, instead of which he allowed an ex-inoculator, who had a licence from
the Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Bedford, to practise vaccination, to carry on inocula-
tion before the arrival of the Government men. The result was an outbreak of small-pox.
On the arrival of the party, notwithstanding strenuous opposition, 143 cases were vaccinated.
The party did well till it came to Khesmi the zemindar of which objected, but the Deputy
Commissioner's arrival on the 4th December soon overcame his scruples. The same party
met with resistance at Sewpore, Litgawan, Dorunda, and Dhunwar, in all of which places
small-pox prevailed. At Gawan, Dr. Basu says, the story had got circulated which he
had heard of in Behar and elsewhere, " that the goddess of railway engines had got angry
and some blood from the arms of pure and innocent children was required to propitiate
the deity, and that as soon as the engines moved the children would die in their houses."
This party got 11,113 cases (10,627 successful). The percentage of success was 95 24.
Each vaccinator on an average did 1,538 cases. The number of villages protected was 497.
A vaccinator died of small-pox at Domechauch. The superintending vaccinator is com-
mended for his activity and diligence. The operations of the apprentices are not included
in the above numbers. The party was inspected twice in November, four times in Decem-
ber, and twice in March by Dr. Basu, and four times in March by the Deputy Superin-
tendent.
The zemindars and their, ryots in the parts of the country included in the circle generally
prefer inoculation to vaccination, but, so far as known, it was not practised except at
Domechauch as before stated. Dr. Basu, however, thinks it very probable that it was
practised in many other places of which he had no cognition. There were in 1878-79
298 cases of death from small-pox reported within the circle, against 137 in 1877-78 and 679 in
1876-77, the ratios per mille of population being .089, .041, and 24 respectively. Dr. Basu
is convinced, however, that all the deaths from small-pox are not reported. The manager
of the Dhunwar estate told him that not less than 60 persons died from December 1878 to
March 1879, though only 17 of these deaths were reported to him.
The total number of cases verified by Dr. Basu was 14,065 and by the Deputy Super-
intendent 17,393, or nearly half of the cases vaccinated. The Superintendent found 92.94
per cent. of the cases successful, while the Deputy Superintendent got 95.43 per cent.
Dr. Basu concludes his report in these words : "In conclusion, I have great pleasure in
expressing my thankfulness to the district officers generally, and in particular to
Colonel H. M. Boddam, Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh, and Lieutenant-Colonel
C. W. B. Morton, Deputy Commissioner, Manbhoom, for giving prompt and effectual aid