18
ABSTRACT OF REPORTS BY SUPERINTENDENTS.
such a happy result was never attained before, and ascribes it, among other things, to the
facility with which the vaccination was accepted in the Sonthal Pergunnahs, to the energetic
assistance of the sub-divisional officer, Banka, and to the removal of all interference of the
ex-inoculators. He suggests the introduction of the self-supporting system of vaccination in
the district of Sonthal Pergunnahs, and the maintenance of a permanent staff of vaccinators
and Inspectors for the districts of Bhagulpore and Monghyr. He thinks there may be
a marked paucity of children next year and the work and expenditure may not compare
favourably with the work of the year under report.
Inspection.—The Deputy Superintendent travelled from village to village and examined
12,424 cases, against 9,603 in the preceding year. The ratio of success is 98.24, against
99.4 in the general returns.
Attitude of the people.—The people of Sonthal Pergunnahs are docile, and do not
offer any objection to accept vaccination. The people of the Bhagulpore and Monghyr
districts are said to be very " obstinate and refractory." *
Inoculation.—Inoculation is extensively practised in Bhagulpore and Monghyr, but
not in the Sonthal Pergunnahs. The Assistant Surgeon recommends the extension of Act IV
(B.C.) of 1865 to these districts.
Small-pox.—During the recess 2,227 cases of small-pox were reported from the different
thanas of Bhagulpore, with 82 deaths. During the working season 198 cases with 15 deaths
were also reported, and they were ascertained to be chiefly among unprotected children.
In Monghyr 168 cases with 22 deaths were reported, and in Sonthal Pergunnahs 27 cases
with 8 deaths. In many of the villages the disease was suppressed by vaccination.
Conduct of establishments.—The Deputy Superintendent bears testimony to the energy,
zeal, and ability with which his staff has carried on their work.
LICENSE AGENCY OPERATIONS.
The following is a summary of the report on the working of the ex-incoulators attached
to the Sonthal Pergunnahs, circle:—
Licenses granted.—From the lists furnished by the Civil Surgeons licenses were issued
in the names of 462 ex-inoculators by the Deputy Superintendent. The actual number of
licenses issued was 52 in Sonthal Pergunnahs, 164 in Monghyr, and 56 in Bhagulpore.
Before the licenses were granted the men were placed under the Inspectors for a course of
practical training.
Working of the season.—In the Sonthal Pergunnahs arm-to-arm vaccination was prac-
tised, and the system of vaccination in four and two points on the upper arm was observed.
The number of operations performed was 23,937 in 666 villages, of which 23,834 were returned
as successful. Out of the 56 license-holders in the Bhagulpore district 18 returned their
licenses, being unable to work in the way they were trained, 22 persons were discovered
practising incoulation and were reported to the Magistrate, and the rest (16) worked in the
different sub-divisions. In the 47 villages visited by them, 785 operations with 779 success-
ful cases were returned. Arm-to-arm vaccination was not practised in all cases. In
Monghyr 113 license-holders out of 163 practised vaccination. The number of cases oper-
ated in 631 villages was 5,694, of which 5,353 were reported to be successful. The total
number of persons vaccinated was 30,416: 29,966 were said to be successful, or a percentage
of 98.5. The work was carried on under the supervision of the Inspectors.
The number inspected by the Deputy Superintendent, Inspectors, and head vaccinators
was 16,336, of which 16,120 were successful, or a percentage of 98.06 successful cases, against
98.5 shown in the general returns. The result in the Sonthal Pergunnahs only is favourably
spoken of. Inoculation was practised to a wide extent in the districts of Monghyr and
Bhagulpore, both by the license-holders and by other people. They were duly prosecuted.
Some were sentenced to imprisonment, some let off with fines, and some are still under trial.
On the whole the Deputy Superintendent is of -opinion that " if sufficient care be taken
every year to impart a thorough practical training to a selected body of ex-inoculators (Bha-
gulpore and Monghyr), and thorough supervision exercised, they will turn out to be the
most useful men in the circle." He adds that " the necessity for the extension of Act IV
(B.C.) of 1865 to the districts of Bhagulpore and Monghyr has been a very pressing one."
EASTERN BENGAL CIRCLE.
Government Vaccination—Paid Agency.
Report and returns.—The report and returns are submitted by Apothecary A. Lyons, who
was in charge of this circle throughout the year. For the first time the work in each
district is separately shown. The circle comprises five districts, viz. Dacca, Backergunge,
Furreedpore, Pubna, and Mymensingh.
Working of the season.—Work began in the first week of October. The bulk of the
establishment was sent to Pubna, which in the previous year was added to this circle.
A strong gang of vaccinators, under a head vaccinator, was also sent to thana Atia, in
Mymensingh, and the working of the establishment was maintained throughout the season.
In both districts the outturn of the work is (including 2,237 belonging to Dacca, Backer-
gunge, and Furreedpore) 190,593 operations, against 184,888 in the previous year. The number