SONTHAL PERGUNNAHS.
51
Results.
Of the total 15,039 cases, 14,984 were primary vaccinations, of which 14,409, or 96.19
per cent., were successful, and 55 were re-vaccinations, of which 47, or 85.45 per cent., were
successful. The re-vaccinations were in most cases performed upon cases which had been
unsuccessful in previous seasons, and hence the percentage of success is rather high.
The above, I humbly presume to say, should be accepted as an exceedingly gratifying
result, considering the smallness of our staff, the nature of the people with whom we have to
deal, and the rugged and hilly character of the tract where we have had to work, in the
midst of hardships and difficulties inconceivable.
Superintendent's
inspection.
10. The tabular statement given below shows the results of my inspections. My
inspections were conducted on the same thorough system as last year. I would take up the
work of one vaccinator at a time, and go on from village to village, minutely inspecting as
many cases as I could find, and often comparing them with the registers kept. After finishing
the work of one I would go over to another, and so on.
On my approach in a certain locality, notice is sent through the chowkidars to the
people of the villages which I would propose to inspect, directing them to keep their
vaccinated children for inspection. Without such previous notice people are apt to go abroad
to work in the fields and jungles, often taking their children with them. In order that I
should not lose the opportunity of inspecting the people of as many villages as may have
assembled to meet me, I would sometimes commence work in the morning, and would not
cease till evening, when after a whole day's toil I would retire to take my meals and my
night's rest in a poor lowly Sonthalee hut or a miserable cowshed, which are often the only
shelters afforded us against wild beasts and biting frosts.
In the course of my tours, I would also often take the opportunity to introduce vaccin-
ation in villages where it has not been introduced before, and to remove doubts and suspicions
from the minds of those who would question the protective influence of vaccination. Thus I
would try to make the most of my time during each tour.
From the month of January my attention being greatly directed to the outbreak of
small-pox at Godda, my regular inspections were, to a certain extent, interfered with.
Statement of
inspection.
Tabular Statement of Inspection.
Seen after the 16th day
„ from 13th to 16th „
„ from 9th to 12th „
„ from 5th to 8th „
„ from 1st to 4th „
Total
Vaccinated in six points, of which
there were successful.
6
113
3
7
...
...
123
5
21
...
...
...
...
21
4
6
... 3
...
...
9
3
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
Failed.
2
...
...
...
...
2
Doubtful.
3
...
...
...
...
3
Vaccinated in four points, of
which there were successful.
4
4,502
187
257
313
*78
5,337
3
2,177
107
163
150
...
2,597
2
1,389
59
123
75
...
1,646
1
439
13
31
22
...
505
Failed.
140
12
56
28
...
236
Doubtful
73
17
62
7
...
159
Vaccinated
in two
points, of
which
there were
successful.
2
191
9
2
6
...
208
1
74
1
5
1
...
81
Failed.
4
...
... 1
...
5
Doubtful
4
... 1
1
...
6
Compared with register.
9,138
408
710
604
78
10,938
Total.
9,138
408
710
604
78
10,938
Absent.
787
8
20
43
3
861
Grand Total.
9,926
410
731
645
87
11,766
* Seen too early to decide on the result.
The total number of persons inspected amounted to 10,938, or 72.7 per cent. of the total
number vaccinated. Excluding the 78 cases seen from the 1st to 4th day, we have 10,860
cases left behind, of which 10,449 were seen successful and 411 unsuccessful, including those
doubtful. The percentage of successful cases inspected is 96.21, and that in the general
return 96.15.
Each vaccinator's work was inspected about eight times on an average during the year.
Small-pox.
11. Small-pox.—The last year has been one of unprecedented activity in epidemic
influence. Outbreaks of small-pox, which have already formed the subjects of special reports,
continued to occur almost throughout the year. In the case of Rajmehal and Pakour
sub-divisions, these were in a great measure continuations of the outbreaks mentioned in my
last annual report, and which first broke out in the beginning of January 1873.
Villages affected in
Rajmehal.
12. During the non-working season, i.e. from April to the end of September, 14 villages
in Rajmehal sub-division, besides the town of Rajmehal itself, and one village in Pakour,
were reported to have been infected. The names of these infected villages are Kankjole,
Islampore, Jhupsipahar, Jamalpore, Phoolbaria, Ghoogee, Oodwa, Newabdewree, Gurgaon,
Englis, Palasbona, Putria, Maharajpore, Asunboni, and Rajipur (in Pakour), besides the town
of Rajmehal itself. A total number of 159 cases and of 73 deaths was reported from these
places. Thirty-four of these deaths, or nearly half the total number, occurred at Palasbona
village, which, like two or three other villages of that quarter, such as Kankjole and
Islampore, is inhabited chiefly by a peculiar sect of Mahomedans, who are rigidly opposed to