30
ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY CIVIL SURGEONS.
total number of persons vaccinated was 1,359, and the avarage number operated on by each
vaccinator was 226.
The primary operations numbered 1,316, of, which 1,281 were successful, or 97.34
per cent. The number of re-vaccinations was 43, of which 30 were successful, or 69.76
per cent. The Civil Surgeon visited thanas Sultangunge, Alumgunge, and Bankipore,
and found 1,146 persons vaccinated with 1,121 successful cases. Some of the people
are well-disposed towards vaccination, others indifferent, while a few are opposed. Eight
inoculators were under training last season, of whom four have learned the art of
vaccinating well. Inoculation has been put a stop to within municipal limits. A large num-
ber of people are said to die every year from small-pox.
Barh.—There is only one vaccinator attached to the Barh dispensary. He is retained by
the municipality annually for five months, from November to March, on a salary of Rs. 10
per mensem. He was directed to go around the different mohullas with a police constable
in escort, vaccinating as many children he could get. He performed 300 operations, of which
299 were primary vaccinations and one a re-vaccination. Of the former 251 were successful, or
83 per cent. No inoculators are trained. Twenty two inoculators came from Mokameh and
Futwa stations to vaccinate children of villages and districts. They were instructed how to
operate and were supplied with vaccine lymph. No opportunity was offered to examine their
cases. The system of vaccination is said to be in good progress in the town of Barh, but the
practice of inoculation is almost common in districts and villages where the law against it is
not enforced. The rich and respectable inhabitants are quite favourable to vaccination, and
consider it important.
Behar.—Two permanent vaccinators served throughout the year on Rs. 5 each per men-
sem ; seven others were employed during the vaccinating season, from 15th November 1879
to end of February 1880. Two of these were paid at Rs. 7 each, two at Rs. 6 each, and the
remaining three at Rs. 5 each per mensem. They were all paid by the municipality. The
two permanent vaccinators worked in the town, while six of the seven temporary men within
an area of five miles around it. The other temporary vaccinator was sent into the interior of
the sub-division. Altogether 676 primary vaccinations were performed, of which 298 were
successful, or 44.08 per cent. The people, it is said, are more reconciled to vaccination, but
their prejudices have not been overcome, particularly of those who live at a distance from the
town. The vaccinators met with less opposition than they did in the previous year.
Inoculation, it is said, is still in practice to a large extent in the interior of the sub-division.
In some places it is openly practised. Cases were heard of in which death occurred after
inoculation, and in the town, where the practice is prohibited, cases were brought to notice
which showed it was secretly performed. Attempts were made during the year, without the
desired success, to train inoculators, and a fee of two annas for every successful case was offered.
In consequence of the practice of inoculation small-pox was prevalent in several parts of the
sub-division.
Gya.— Six vaccinators were employed from 15th October 1879 to 15th April 1880 ; they
were paid by the municipality. One worked in Gya, one at Ticari, two at Arungabad,
and one at Jehanabad. They were directed to conduct their operations under the direct
supervision of the sub-divisional Civil Hospital Assistants. Many of the present vaccinators
are old inoculators. Without a special supervising agency Dr. Macleod thinks it worse
than useless to license inoculators as vaccinators, as they invariably revert to their old
practices when not looked after. Altogether 1,654 vaccinations were performed, and the
average number done by each vaccinator was 275.6. All were primary operations, of
which 1,414 were successful, or 85.4 per cent. The people are said to be extremely averse
to vaccination. The Civil Surgeon thinks that it will make little progress in the district
until inoculation, which is universally practised throughout the district, is prohibited by
law, and unless vaccinators are more closely supervised.
Shahabad.—There were seven vaccinators employed, all paid by the municipality. They
are as follows:—
One at Arrah on Rs. 10 per mensem for the whole year.
„
Sasseram
„
„
„
„ Chenaree
„
„
„
„ Bhubooah
„
„
„
„ Buxar
„
„
„
„ Dumraon
„
„
„
„ Jugdispore
„
„
„
six months.
four „
three „
four „
six
„
six
„
They worked within their respective municipal limits, and their operations were inspected
by the Assistant Surgeons and Civil Hospital Assistants at the different stations. The
work at Arrah was inspected by the Civil Surgeon, who reports that hardly any success
was obtained during November' and December 1879. Altogether 3,255 operations were
performed, and the average number done by each vaccinator was 465. Primary vaccinations
numbered 3,232, of which 2,763 were successful, or 85.49 per cent. There were 23 re-vaccin-
ations, of which 12 were successful, or 52.17 per cent. To improve the practice of vaccination
in the district Dr. Thornton thinks that an inspector is required, whose business should be to
travel about in the cold season and inspect the work of the vaccinators and also that done
by converted inoculators. All efforts to train inoculators, it is said, have been given up for
want of supervision or control over converted inoculators, several of whom have reverted
to their old practice. In Arrah the people, it is said, accept vaccination readily, and at