NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
55
spected after the operation. If the doubtful cases be divided in proportion to the
successful and unsuccessful ones, the percentage of successful cases will be raised to
94.5, which perhaps would be nearer the truth than 90.7. The lymph had to be
changed once or twice during the year. The Vaccinator seems very zealous in his
work, but complains of the reluctance of the people to allow their children to be
vaccinated, and that he is not at times assisted by Peons or Police Officers. I have
represented this to the authorities, who promise that every assistance shall be given.
There are rumours occasionally of small-pox, but we have great difficulty in
ascertaining the truth, for whenever inquiry is made concerning the existence of
small-pox the inhabitants invariably deny it, apparently from fear of vaccination
being enforced upon them. Once in the hot season there occurred a few cases of
small-pox in Kotree, but I have not seen any since, excepting in a Sowar of the 3rd
Sind Horse, who was admitted into hospital with small-pox when the regiment was
marching through Kotree.
KUTCH.
DORABJEE HORMUSJEE, G.G.M.C.
Years.
1866 ..........
1867 ...........
Total
Vaccinated.
1,139
705
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
434
Successfully
Vaccinated.
944
592
Percentage
of Success.
82.9
83.1
During the last year 705 vaccinations were performed at the Dispensary and in
the district of Kutch. It shows a falling off of 434 operations when compared with
those of the year 1866, but still an excess by 99 over those of 1865. Of the 705
subjects, 344 were males and 361 females; of which 254 were under one year of age,
and the rest (451) above it; 590 were successful, 87 unsuccessful, and 28 doubtful.
Vaccination during the last year was not conducted at all satisfactorily, in consequence
of great opposition experienced both from the people of Bhooj as well as those from
the districts.
For the last two months vaccination could not be carried on at the Dispensary,
as the lymph was not kept up, in consequence of the few cases that were available at
a time, and even those not being able to preserve the vesicles intact. In the case of
those that were vaccinated it was only with much trouble and difficulty. In the
districts belonging to His Highness the Rao, the Vaccinators every now and then met
with great opposition, but this was removed by orders from His Highness bringing them
to their right senses; but in the districts belonging to the Bhyats vaccinating was
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altogether out of question, as the greatest opposition was met therein. With the
exception of one caste, the Borahs, the people generally are averse to vaccination, but
are greatly in favour of inoculation; for I observed, during the epidemic of small-pox that
broke out last year, that numbers of them flocked to the inoculators, even at the sacri-
fice of some money, but none of them, except the Borahs, of their own accord resorted
either to the Dispensary or to the Vaccinators. I have received similar reports from
the Vaccinators in the districts.
The people are impressed with the idea that of those inoculated not one ever
dies from small-pox; hence they are found ready to have their children inoculated.
but show great opposition to vaccination. They cannot be made to understand that
by inoculation they are carrying the contagion to their very doors, and placing
those who are unprotected in even greater danger. I have no doubt that the
epidemic raged very violently because inoculation was practised to a great extent.
Unless, therefore, inoculation be made criminal or punishable by law, and vaccination
be made compulsory to some extent, it is not unlikely that another epidemic may
break out with equal violence.
ADEN.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon R. W. JAMES, M.D.
Years.
1866 .........
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
799
628
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
171
Successfully
Vaccinated.
610
416
Percentage
of Success.
76.3
66.2
The returns for the last year show a decrease of 171 in the number vaccinated as
compared with 1866, and for this three causes are to be assigned ; viz., a smaller
number of liberated slaves brought to Aden by Her Majesty's Ship " Highflyer ";
the absence of any epidemic of small-pox, the sole incentive that prompts the
apathetic inhabitants to submit to vaccination; the failure in the supply of lymph
during a part of the year.
Her Majesty's Ship " Highflyer", during the end of the year, was the only vessel
that came to Aden for adjudication of captured slaves. She had only a small number
of slaves, and I am glad to say that they were free from variola.
42 cases of epidemic small-pox were admitted between January and August, the
greatest number (10) occurring in March. The type, though confluent, was not so
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virulent as last year, the mortality being only 26.6 per cent. of the number treated in
the Small-pox Hospital.
The supply of lymph was well kept up till the end of May, when it failed. On the
22nd of May 5 children were vaccinated, but of these three were taken away to the inte-
rior, after the parents had satisfied themselves, on the fifth day at the Hospital, that the
vaccination had succeeded; from the fourth the parents refused to allow the lymph to
be taken; and the fifth was unsuccessful. On the 29 th, 6 more children were vaccinated
from lymph that had been kept between glasses and points, but they did not succeed.
In July, however, fresh lymph from England in tubes was employed successfully, and
at the date of this Report it continued in use. The character of the lymph was good.
Vaccination from child to child is the only certain way to ensure success in a climate
like Aden.
The conduct of the Vaccinator has been good.
Statistics of Small-pox during the year 1867.
Total number of cases of small-pox during the year ..................
Of the total number were vaccinated ..................
Of this died of small-pox when vaccinated ..........
In infancy ..
In after-life ..
In infancy ..
In after-life ..
Of the total number were unprotected ...........................
Of this died of small-pox ........................................
Total deaths from small-pox out of the total number of cases ...............
Number.
45
..
..
..
..
45
12
12
8 v