NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
31
Halole ; with these exceptions this Circle appears to have been free from epidemic
disease.
The Civil authorities in the Punch Mahals and in the Rewa Kanta gave consider-
able assistance to the vaccinators, as well as to the Superintendent. The appointment
of a head vaccinator for general duty, and of one or two apprentices, would be of
great benefit, as it is extremely difficult to get suitable men to accept the appoint-
ment of assistant vaccinator.
PRESIDENCY DIVISION.
Local Superintendent—Sub-Assistant
Surgeon ANUNTA CHUNDROBA.
Establishment.—Six Vaccinators.
YEARS.
1865 ........
1866 ........
Total
Vaccinated.
7,829
8,866
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
1,037
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
5,646
6,669
Per-centage of
Success.
72.1
75.2
During the past year 8,866 persons were vaccinated, being an increase of 1,037
over the total vaccinated in the year preceding it. Of these 5,003 were males and
3,863 females; 5,399 Hindoos, 1,461 Mussulmans, 1,185 Christians, 619 Parsees, and
202 of other castes chiefly Jews ; 3,596 under and 5,270 above one year of age.
Of the total operations performed 6,669, or a percentage of 75.2 were successful,
in 896 they failed, and in 1,301 the result could not be ascertained. The increased
percentage of success as compared with that of the previous year is not owing so
much to any appreciable decrease in the failures of the operations as to the ascertain-
ment of the result in more cases than was done in the previous year, as was to be
expected from the increased number of hands working in the department, though
even this falls far short of the hopes entertained at the commencement. Peculiarly
circumstanced as the department is, and the natives, as it were in a body, trying
their best to evade the search of the vaccinators for fear of their being called upon
to supply lymph, it beccomes an extremely difficult, if not almost an impossible, task
to ascertain satisfactorily the results in all cases operated upon. I am more convinced
than ever of the absolute necessity of an authoritative interference of the Government
in the matter.
The lymph in use has been throughout of an excellent quality ; great assistance
was derived from the charged capillary tubes received from the several Divisional
Superintendents.
32
VACCINATION UNDER CIVIL SURGEONS
TANNA.
One Vaccinator (Municipality) under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon II. ATKINS.
YEARS.
1865
1866 .......
Total
Vaccinated.
109
202
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
93
Decrease.
..
..
Succesfully
Vaccinated.
100
195
Per-centage of
Success.
91.7
96.5
During the past year 202 persons have been vaccinated by the vaccinator
employed by the Municipality, of whom 137 were males, and 65 females, 58 being
under one year of age. An increase of 93 operations over last year is thus shown.
Vaccination was carried on for the whole year, excepting during the month of
October, when it failed, and I was not able to restore it till November. The lymph
has been good, and the vesicles well formed. The vaccinator seems willing and
diligent, but complains of the difficulties he has to contend with from the opposition
and aversion of the inhabitants ; I hope that by tact and perseverance it may be over
come.
POONA.
Three Vaccinators under the Civil Surgeon,
Surgeon T. B. BEATTY, A.B., M.D. (Acting).
One Vaccinator (Government).
Two Vaccinators (Municipality).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government..
Municipal ..
YEARS.
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
1,537
1,699
....
1,389
Compared with the pre-
ceding year.
Increase.
....
162
....
1,389
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,229
1,378
....
1,090
Per-centage
of Success.
79.9
81.1
....
78.5
33
There has been an increase in the total number vaccinated during the past year
compared with the previous one. At present there are four vaccinators for the Poona
City and Cantonment, two of these have lately been engaged by the Municipality
for the use of the residents in the City only. The vaccinator attached to this Hos-
pital also finds employment there, but the entertainment of his services would appear
now to be superfluous. The 4th vaccinator is employed under the Staff Surgeon
and his duties are confined to the inhabitants of the Cantonment only.
AHMEDNUGGUR.
Two Vaccinators under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon H. T. DANN, B.A. (Acting).
One Vaccinator (Government).
One Vaccinator (Municipality).
YEARS.
1865 ............
1866
Civil 1,080
Muni-
cipal 566
Total
Vaccinated.
1,480
1,646
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
166
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,183
1,431
Per-centage of
Success.
79.9
86.9
It may be observed by a comparision of the accompanying returns with those of
the year 1865, that the number of vaccinations effected this year has been in excess
of the preceding annual period by one hundred and sixty-six.
Small-pox was entirely absent, and the necessity for vaccination not so con-
stantly before the eyes of the public.
As to sexes, 993 were males and 653 females ; 844 were under one year and 802
above that age.
SATTARA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon H. V. CARTER, M.D.
Years.
Total
Vaccinated.
914
1,611
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
..
697
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
786
1,536
Per-centage of
Success.
85.9
95.3
v 5
34
A considerable increase in the number vaccinated during this year, as compared
with the previous year, is the chief feature in the appended return. This increase
amounts to 697, or upwards of 75 per cent. on the total of 1865.
Another satisfactory result is the increase of percentage of success which amounts
to 95.34 as compared with 85.9 in the year 1865. I know of no reason to doubt
the correctness of the first named datum, it is certainly a very good result to obtain.
From both causes, enumerated above, there have been very nearly twice as many
persons successfully vaccinated in the year under report, as in the previous year.
The explanation of the vaccinator is simply to the effect that many more children
were brought this year to the Civil Hospital than previously. Ryots from a dis-
tance will seldom bring an infant under 12 months of age, and those with a family will
bring several children together, hence in some years the number of children from the
district is small. It is evident that the common inducement, viz. prevalence of small-
pox, can have had little influence, inasmuch as that disease was happily rare in and
around Sattara during the year in question. Except in the months of August and
September the vesicles and lymph have been noted as " good," in those months as
"fairly good;" the former being rather small. Latterly I have seen very good
vesicles, and in conclusion consider that the efficiency of this small establishment con-
tinues to be good.
SHOLAPOOR.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon C. F. OGILVIE, M. D.
YEARS.
1865
1866 ........
Total
Vaccinated.
1,969
2,241
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
272
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,532
1,753
Per-centage of
success.
77.8
78.2
During the past year, the number of persons vaccinated was 2,241, of these
1,140 were males, and 1,101 were females ; 832 were children under one year, and
1,409 were above that age; 1,753 were succesful, 238 doubtful, and 250 were un-
successful. I regret to state, that although I have taken great interest in the work
during a residence of nearly five years at this station, the successful operations amount
only to 78.2 per-cent., and including those returned as doubtful, only to about 89 per-
35
cent. There is, however, a slight increase in the percentage of success this year as
compared with the previous one. The fault is not to be attributed to the lymph, as
every operation I have personally performed has been successful. It may be in the
want of care in selecting the subjects for the operation ; but a very great deal in my
opinion depends upon the apathy manifested by the parents. They seem yet not to
appreciate the blessings of this almost certain preventive against small-pox. Were it
otherwise, the number of operations upon children under one year would be many
more than at present ; but I hope if I am here another year, to be able to report
upon this work more favourably than I have hitherto been able to do.
DHOOLIA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon W. E. CATES.
YEARS.
1865 ........
1866 ........
Total
Vaccinated.
819
792
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
..
..
Decrease.
..
27
Successfully
Vaccinated.
763
694
Per-centage of
Success.
93.1
87.6
Of the 792 persons vaccinated during the year 1866, 416 were males and 376
females, 638 were under 1 year, and 154 above that age, 694 were successful cases, 52
unsuccessful, and 46 doubtful. These numbers show a decrease, as compared with
the previous year both in the number vaccinated and in the percentage of success, but
not to any great extent. I have found considerable difficulty in persuading parents to
bring their children for vaccination, and still greater difficulty with regard to their
bringing them for inspection after vaccination, especially in the case of those not
residing in the town itself. The native civil authorities are very lukewarm as a general
rule in the cause.
The lymph has been usually of good quality, the vesicles in all cases returned as
successful have been characteristic, and the percentage of successful vaccinations
would, I think, have been large, had all the children been brought for subsequent
inspection, a large number of the cases returned as doubtful having been those which
were not seen again after vaccination.
36
NASSICK.
One Vaccinator under Sub-Assistant Surgeon A. SUMMERS.
YEARS.
1865 ......
1866 ......
Total
Vaccinated.
756
763
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
7
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
602
621
Per-centage of
Success.
79.6
81.4
I have to report upon the result of vaccination performed at the Civil Hospital
and in the Town of Nassick for the past year in a more favourable manner than the
preceding. Out of the 763 cases operated upon 621 were successful, twenty-one by the
monthly returns were unsuccessful, some of these were re-vaccinated successfully after-
wards, 121 are shown in the return as doubtful cases, these being children whose
parents, residing in the neighbouring villages, did not bring them after vaccination,
owing to their disinclination to have the vaccine lymph taken from the successfully
developed pustules.
BELGAUM.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Surgeon Major G. G. W. MAITLAND.
YEARS.
1865 .......
1866 .......
Total
Vaccinated.
738
612
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
..
Decrease.
..
126
Successfully
Vaccinated.
700
595
Per-centage of
Success.
94.8
97.2
The present annual return of persons vaccinated by the Government vaccinator
in the town of Belgaum, as shown in the above table, exhibits a decrease of 126
compared with the preceding year. This result I do not consider attributable to any
want of zeal on the part of the Government vaccinator, but from the fact, that during
the period under review there have been two vaccinators at work in the town of
37
Belgaum, and that their joint labours raise the total of vaccinations to 1,335, an
amount of vaccination much greater than has ever been performed in one year in this
town, but still, less than might reasonably be expected among a population of 19,000.
The Lyngayet portion of the community are still very averse to vaccination, particu-
larly the weaver class. And as small-pox has now appeared in an epidemic form in
their quarter of the town, the subject has been brought to the notice of the civil
authorities.
Referring to the work performed by the Government vaccinator, the result is as
follows : successfully vaccinated 595, unsuccessful 8, doubtful 9, percentage of success
97. He has also vaccinated 102 children living in the Cantonment Bazar and Fort,
making a total of 714 persons during the year.
Until within the last month there has been no small-pox in the town, and
I trust the measures now being taken will effectually arrest the epidemic and prevent
a like occurrence for the future.
DHARWAR.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Surgeon M. M. MACKENZIE (Acting).
YEARS.
1865
1866 .......
Total
Vaccinated.
543
597
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
49
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
461
491
Per-centage of
Success.
84.1
82.3
The above shows a satisfactory increase of 49 over that of the preceding year,
and an increase of 30 successful over that for 1865. The greatest number vaccinated
in any one month was 72 in March, then 67 in February and January 1865. The
percentage successful has been 82.2, while for 1865 it was 84.1. Hindoos give 446 cases,
132 Mussulmans, and 19 Christians ; 301 were males and 296 females. The vaccinator
meets with little or no obstruction, but rather the reverse, in the carrying out of his
duties. Vaccine matter has been sent to Carwar, Nusscerabad, Sevinoor and most of
the Dharwar districts. It has been, in almost every case, of excellent quality, and
held well. The vaccinator is a diligent, careful and trustworthy man, and seems to
possess the confidence of the natives.
38
KOLAPOOR.
One Vaccinator under Sub-Assistant Surgeon WAMON WASSOODEO.
YEARS.
1865
1866
Total.
Vaccinated.
1,701
1,674
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
..
Decrease.
..
27
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,687
1,662
Per-centage of
Success.
99.1
99.3
During the past year the number of vaccinations performed by the station
vaccinator in the City of Kolapoor and a few villages of the Petas of Kurveer,
Punalla, and Sherole was 1,674, which is less than that of the year previous by 27, and
less than the average of the five preceding years by 793. Of the total number vacci-
nated in the year under report 862 were males and 812 females; 425 were children
under one year, and the remaining 1,249 were above that age. The percentage of the
successful cases has been 99.3.
The monthly average number of vaccinations has been 139.5, but during the
months of July, August, and September, when cholera prevailed in the city and
neighbouring districts with considerable mortality, it was slightly decreased, being
only 115. During the year a few isolated cases of small-pox occurred in the districts
of Punalla, but the disease was never reported to have shown itself in the epedimic
form.
The lymph in use has always been of good quality, and its supply has been
kept up throughout the year.
Lymph was supplied as usual to the Camp and to some of the vaccinators serving
under the Superintendent of Vaccination, S. C., when required. Dr. Day, Superin-
tendent of Vaccination, Southern Circle, while at this station on his tour of inspection,
vaccinated three or four children at the Civil Hospital with the lymph which he had
just received from England, probably with a view to examine its quality. The new
and fresh lymph thus obtained and introduced has been ordered to be kept up.
39
RUTNAGHERRY.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon C. JOHNSON.
YEARS.
1865
1860
Total
Vaccinated.
431
273
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
..
Decrease.
..
158
Successfully
Vaccinated.
339
217
Per-centage of
Success.
78.6
79.5
The total number of children vaccinated during the year I regret to find is less by
122 than the number vaccinated during the previous year; this may be accounted for
very much in the same way as in the report of the foregoing year, viz., from the fact
that the town and neighbourhood of Rutnagherry has been comparatively free from
small-pox compared with most years, and partly owing to the difficulty experienced by
the vaccinator in obtaining help from the authorities. Shortly after I received charge
of the duties of Civil Surgeon here, I wrote strongly on the subject to the Collector and
Magistrate of the district, and I think matters in this particular are now improved.
During the rains, great difficulty was experienced in keeping up a supply of lymph,
owing at times to the lymph being of inferior quality, and again to there being a
difficulty in getting children. The number vaccinated is less than last year ; but
taking all circumstances into consideration, and the difficulties experienced, it is, I
think, fair.
VINGORLA.
Senior Apothecary S. HANSON.
YEARS.
1865 ........
1866 ........
Total
Vaccinated.
542
119
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
..
Decrease.
..
423
Successfully
Vaccinated.
518
104
Per-centage of
Success.
95.5
87.4
40
The total number vaccinated during the year has been 119, while that for the
preceding year was 542, showing a decrease of 423. The principal cause for this fall-
ing off is the lack of children to be operated on, which may be accounted for from
the fact that an unusually large number were vaccinated during the past year, when
small-pox visited this station. There is also another cause for the decrease, which is,
that during the months of May, June and November last, vaccination was not kept
up by the Hospital Assistants then in temporary medical charge of the Station. Of
the 119 vaccinated 74 were male and 45 female children, 22 were under one year, and
97 above that age. The successful vaccinations have been 104 or 87.3 per cent. on
the total number vaccinated. The lymph and vesicles were good.
No case of small-pox came under observation during the year.
AHMEDABAD.
Two Vaccinators under the Civil Surgeon,
Surgeon Major D. WYLLIE, M.D.
One Vaccinator (Government.)
One Vaccinator (Municipality.)
YEARS.
1865 ..........
1866
Civil 2,927
Muni-
cipal 2,762
Total
Vaccinated.
4,271
5,689
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
1,418
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
4,183
5,505
Per-centage of
Success.
98.0
96.8
The very satisfactory increase above shown of 1,418 operations in the work of the
year, as compared with results in 1865, is due to the circumstance of two vaccinators
having been employed, whereas formerly the city vaccination was confided to a single
subordinate.
In respect of sex, 3,003 males were operated on and 2,686 females. There has
ever been a majority of males, but of late years this preponderance has been gradually
lessening, and it is a hopeful sign as indicative of increasing solicitude for female
offspring that in the present returns they show as high a percentage as 47.21 on the
total vaccinations.
There were 3,485 operations under one year and 2,204 over that age. The
difference has been in the same direction since 1859, but for the past two years it
41
has been somewhat less conspicuous, probably because there has since been a con-
siderable immigration from the neighbouring Native States. As to results, the ratio
of successful cases was 96.8, a lower figure than ordinary, but adequately accounted for
in the fact that one of the vaccinators was new to the work, and that infantile sick-
ness was prevalent during the autumnal months. The failures however only average
1.8 and that of doubtful cases 1.4, the latter altogether lost sight of, it being no un-
common thing for parents purposely to remove or conceal their children after opera-
tion to avoid thereby any chance of the prophylactic being propagated from them,
there being some prejudice that removal of lymph impairs protective efficacy.
The lymph continued good throughout and the resulting vesicles were well-
formed and typical, although somewhat smaller during the rains than in the other
season. Supplies were repeatedly sent to neighbouring stations and dispensaries, as
well as to troops on the line of march.
Small-pox was present in the city from January to July, but the cases were few
compared with the previous year, and the deaths from this cause during the period
were only 10. Inoculation has long since been put a stop to in this district, and as
regards the city, vaccination is in no way obstructed, the community at large being so
far sensible of the benefit extended as to accept it willingly when brought to their
doors and at a time to suit their convenience. I have no suggestion to offer, the existing
arrangements appearing to me adequate at present for the end in view. Both vac-
cinators have been industrious and attentive in discharging their duties as results,
checked by weekly inspections, sufficiently prove.
KAIRA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon II. COOK, M. D. (Acting.)
YEARS.
1865 ........
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
577
668
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
91
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
592
590
Per-centage of
Success.
85.3
88.3
The total number of cases vaccinated during the year has been 668, showing an
increase over the number in the preceding year of 91 ; of these, all but 75 have been
under one year old; 387 were males, 281 females. With reference to caste, 564 were
Hindoos, 73 Mussulmans, 2 Parsees, and 29 of other castes. The vaccinator's opera-
v 6
42
tions are not confined to the town of Kaira, as he works in two or three of the neigh-
bouring villages. The total number of cases is very small when compared with the
population of the town, but as they are nearly all among children under one year
old, it will be seen that the operation is almost restricted to the recently born children.
There is frequently considerable difficulty in finding out the recently born or unpro-
tected children in a large town, as there does not seem to be any register of births
available for the use of the. vaccinator.
When here last year as Superintendent of Vaccination, I examined this vacci-
nator's work in the surrounding villages, and found that it had been satisfactorily per-
formed by him, and that the children therein were well protected.
The lymph has been of average quality and the vesicles of normal size and
development. The supply of lymph has been regular and continuous, and the number
of unsuccessful operations have been small. The inhabitants of the town and country
seem now tolerably well aware of the beneficial effects of vaccination, and all but the
most careless willingly bring their children to the vaccinator or allow him to vac-
cinate them.
There has been no epidemic of small-pox for some considerable time, though
occasional cases occur here and there at lengthened intervals. The inhabitants
generally are too well protected, either by the disease itself or vaccination to allow
the disease to become epidemic except through their own culpable neglect.
SURAT.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Surgeon H. J. GANE (Acting.)
YEARS.
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
1,528
1,967
Compared with the preceding
year.
Increase.
..
439
Decrease.
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,407
1,535
Per-centnge of
Success.
92.0
78.0
During the past year 1,967 children have been vaccinated; of this number
369 were doubtful and 63 unsuccessful cases. This great increase goes far to
prove that the Natives have no objection to have ther children vaccinated. The
vaccinator, with the assistance of the Hospital peon, visits different parts of the city
and induces the Natives to bring their children to the Civil Hospital for vaccination,
There has been no epidemic of small-pox during the past year.