NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
31
to have this effected previous to his departure, and had called upon many of them
to appoint Vaccinators.
In a letter which I addressed to Colonel Keatinge in May, on the subject of
Vaccination, I proposed that a general fund should be established to which every
Chief should subscribe, and the payment and entire control of the Vaccinators
should be intrusted to the Superintendent; to this, however, the principal Chiefs
would not consent. They agreed to appoint as many Vaccinators as were necessary,
and to give the control of them to the Superintendent, but they must be the Chiefs'
servants, and paid by them. Still I think that my proposition might be carried out
with regard to the petty Chiefs, most of whom now pay nothing ; every Chief pos-
sessing fifty villages might be called upon to appoint a Vaccinator, while those with
less could pay a subscription according to the extent of their territory.
12. With regard to the superintendence of these men, Colonel Keatinge sug-
gested that four Assistant Superintendents should be appointed, each on a salary of
Rupees 50 per month, to be paid by Government, and the Government Vaccinators
now employed to be discharged. This plan would no doubt increase the returns
considerably, which would look very well on paper, but I question if real vaccination
would be much advanced by it, owing to the difficulty of finding really trustworthy
men to fill the office of Assistant Superintendent; and I believe that nothing can
supply the place of personal inspection by the Superintendent, who, if he takes an
interest in the subject, and is well supported by the Political Agent, will be able to
inspect the work of almost every Vaccinator in the course of the year.
13. There are three principal States in Kattiawar; of these Bhownuggur
employs eight Vaccinators, one of them called a Superintendent. I have not yet been
able to visit any of these districts ; I was on my way there in November when recalled
to camp. To judge from the monthly returns, the work is not carried on with
diligence ; but I believe the Durbar has every wish that it should be so, and will give
every assistance.
14. Joonaghur employs three. I cannot report favourably of the work done by
these men, one of whom was formerly in Government employ, and is now infirm from
paralysis, and unfit for much work. The Durbar has never given me any assistance,
but, on the contrary, the Karbaree at Joonaghur refused to help me at all when on my
tour of inspection in April, and said it was not the custom to have the children
inspected ; and the head man at Kotiana, another large town, would not assist me at
all. The consequence is, that the Vaccinators do much as they choose, and I have
very little control over them. This would doubtless have been remedied had Colonel
Keatinge remained.
15. Nuggur formerly employed two Vaccinators, but, at the request of Colonel
Keatinge, arrangements were made to increase the number to five, which is almost too
small a number to carry on the work properly. At an interview which I had with the
Chief, in company with Captain Hebbert, Assistant Political Agent, in the month of
33
being successful. Having received orders to take charge of the 17th Regiment N. I.,
I returned to camp on the 28th.
My tour of inspection has thus been confined to little more than four months, the
greater part of that in the hot weather; I have therefore been able to inspect only a
very small part of the province.
17. The lymph that is at present in use was introduced from England in January
1867, on points ; one small vesicle resulted, from which the lymph has been propagated
and distributed to all the Vaccinators. I have twice received tubes and points sent for
by myself, and once, in December, from Government; all these have failed. A small
vesicle rose from that supplied in December, but the lymph was not of a good character,
and has not been used.
18. Small-pox has prevailed to a great extent in the past year, principally in the
earlier part, but many of the cases that I was shown were not small-pox at all; the
majority of the children in the villages suffer during the hot weather from some form
or other of eruptive disease. Nevertheless the disease has undoubtedly committed great
ravages during the year.
REWA KANTA CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon J. T. WELSH, M.D.
Establishment.—Five
Vaccinators under Government, and six under Native
Chiefs.
Establishment.
Government
(Punch Mahals)
Native Chiefs...
Years.
1866....
1867....
1866....
1867.. ..
Totai
Vaccinated.
5,833
7,967
4,855
5,359
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
2,134
....
504
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
5,296
7,373
4,741
5,054
Percentage
of Success.
90.8
92.5
97.6
94.3
In the year 1866 there was an increase of 2,496 in the number of operations per-
formed by the Government Vaccinators in this Circle, and as during the year just
terminated there has been a further increase of 2,134, I have now the pleasure of
stating that in the course of the past two years the number of vaccinations has been
more than doubled : 3,337 children were vaccinated in 1865, and 7,967 during the
year 1867.
Last year I had occasion to refer to two cases of falsification of returns ; but this
year, although I used every means to test their accuracy in all respects, I did not
5 v
35
sent in his resignation in the month of September. Mahasook Kudoojee, a candidate
from the Northern Circle, was appointed to the vacancy, and joined in November.
A few cases of small-pox occurred in the Dohud Districts during May and June,
and in July one or two cases in Chota Oodeypoor were also reported. I met with no
case of inoculation.
The lymph throughout the year has generally been very good. Most of the
Vaccinators have now learned to charge Husband's capillary tubes, and to vaccinate
with the lymph thus preserved.
The civil authorities have, as in former years, taken great interest in vaccination,
and given every assistance in their power.
PRESIDENCY DIVISION.
Local Superintendent.—Sub-Assistant Surgeon ANANTA CHUNDROBA.
Establishment.—Six Vaccinators.
Years.
1866 ...........
1867 ...........
Total
Vaccinated.
8,866
10,985
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
2,119
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
6,669
8,428
Percentage
of Success.
75.2
76.7
The past has been a comparatively busier year. During it, besides the usual
number of persons from amongst the residents of Bombay, several hundreds belong-
ing to the Abyssinian Field Force have been vaccinated, and many others supplied
with large quantities of preserved lymph, in the shape of charged capillary tubes,
ivory points, and scabs.
The total number operated upon amounted to 10,985, being 2,119 more than
in the year preceding .Of these, 6,279 were males and 4,706 females,—7,402 Hindoos,
1,617 Mahomedans, 966 Christians, 766 Parsees, and 234 of other castes, chiefly
Jews ; 5,072 under and 5,913 above one year of age.
Of the total operations performed, 8,428, or a percentage of 76.7, were success-
ful, in 1,179 they failed, and in 1,378 the result could not be ascertained.
The lymph in use has been throughout of an excellent quality, being constantly
renewed by lymph received from Europe, as well as from the Superintendents of the
different Vaccination Circles in the Mofussil.
Great assistance was derived from the charged capillary tubes received from the
different Superintendents, as we were thereby enabled easily to meet the requisitions
for supplying lymph in large quantities to some portion of the Abyssinian Field Force.
37
VACCINATION UNDER CIVIL SURGEONS.
TANNA.
One Vaccinator (Municipality's) under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon H. ATKINS.
Years.
1866 ...........
1867 ...........
Total
Vaccinated.
202
176
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
26
Successfully
Vaccinated.
195
103
Percentage
of Success.
96.5
58.5
Since last Report there has been a diminution of the number vaccinated by 26,
caused by the Vaccinator being wanting in diligence and perseverance, so necessary
in a town like Tanna, where there is much opposition.
In June, in consequence of the small number vaccinated, the monthly numbers,
never amounting to more than 20, and frequently being as low as 10, coupled with a
large number of failures in those who were brought to me for examination, I was
obliged to represent the conduct of the Vaccinator to the Inspector General, with
the view to his being dismissed. Since that time no children were vaccinated
till November last. The failures (10) this year have been caused in a great measure
by the want of care in the selection of typical vesicles to vaccinate from, and also a
large proportion (53) are reckoned amongst the " doubtful," as they were not brought
for inspection.
Those vaccinated in the Police Corps have been included, as before, in the Civil
Return. In January and February the lymph was very inferior, and new lymph had
to be supplied from Bombay ; since then it has continued good, the vesicles well
formed, running their natural course. It has had to be frequently renewed, on
account of the habit of the natives scratching off the vesicles to prevent their being
vaccinated from. Lately I have kept a supply in capillary tubes, which in my
experience rarely fails. I have a Maratha learning to vaccinate ; he has begun to do
it himself, and as soon as he commands average success I intend making him the
Civil Vaccinator. He appears to be a willing lad, and one who I think is able to
combat the prejudices of the natives.
38
Small-pox was prevalent in the months of November and December, which has
made the Mussulman, Parsee, and Christian inhabitants more alive to protective
influence; the Hindoos are still much opposed to it.
RUTNAGHERRY.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon C. JOHNSON.
Years.
1866 .........
1867 .........
Total
Vaccinated.
273
1,302
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
1,029
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
217
1,008
Percentage
of Success.
79.5
77.4
I am glad to be able to report an increase in the number of children vaccinated
during the past year, amounting to 1,029, over those of the previous year. This is to be
attributed to the great zeal and activity exhibited by the Vaccinator, who has been
unremitting in his attention to his duties, and has visited several villages within reach
of Rutnagherry, and carried on his labours in those places until all the children have been
protected. I have great pleasure in acknowledging the great assistance I have received
from the Superintendent of Police, Major Johnstone, in getting the people to come
forward to have their children protected, and in assisting to make the people aware of
the advantages of having their children vaccinated. There seems to be a tendency
towards the better appreciation of the good effects of vaccination among the people
generally, and I have no doubt that, now it has been fairly started, it will become more
popular every year.
I consider the increase in the number of children vaccinated most satisfactory for
the present, but at the same time think that the number ought to increase steadily
year by year for some years to come, and have no doubt such will be the case as the
people become more enlightened. I have no reason to complain of want of assistance
from the authorities now; on the contrary, I have received every help I could
expect, and the result is shown by the return.
The Vaccinator has been most painstaking and diligent, and has shown more zeal
and atttention to his work than is often witnessed.
39
VINGORLA.
Senior Apothecary S. HANSON.
Years.
1866 ...........
1867 ...........
Total
Vaccinated
119
151
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
32
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
104
137
Percentage
of Success.
87.4
90.7
The total number vaccinated during the year 1867 was 151, being an increase of
32 on that of the previous year. Of these, 84 were male and 67 female children ; 23
were under one year, and 128 above that age. The successful vaccinations have been
137, or 90.7 per cent. on the total number vaccinated.
The lymph and vesicles were good. No case of small-pox came under observation
during the year.
KARWAR.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon J. DAVIES.
Years.
1866
1867 ........
Total
....
308
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
308
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
....
277
Percentage
of Success.
....
89.9
The above result dates from the 1st of April, as previous to that date no Vacci-
nator was appointed under me ; occasional visits were made by a Vaccinator under the
Superintendent in 1865 and 1866. Out of the total number vaccinated, 181 were
males and 127 females ; 24 were under one year and 284 over one year of age. The
number under one year is exceedingly low, and is accounted for by the fact that the
parents object to the operation within the first year.
I am glad to be able to state that the natives generally have not the aversion to
vaccination that they showed a year or two ago, but there still remains a strong pre-
judice in some classes, especially the Bhundarries. Considering this is the first start,
and the population so scattered, as well as the general apathy of the natives, I think
the work done is very fair.
The quality of the lymph has been excellent, and the vesicles very charac-
teristic.
40
SURAT.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon H. J. GANE (Acting).
Years.
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
1,697
1,631
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
336
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,535
1,395
Percentage
of Success.
78
85.5
During the year ending on the 31st of December 1867, 1,631 children of Surat
were vaccinated, being a decrease of 336 compared with the last year : 871 were male
and 760 were female children, of which 12 were Christians, 1,279 Hindoos, 244
Mussulmans, 35 Parsees, and 61 other castes. Under one year there were 891, and
above one year 740 ; the total successfully vaccinated being 1,395, unsuccessful 84,
and doubtful 152 ; the percentage of successful being 35.85.
A large portion of the natives have a great objection to have their children
vaccinated unless they are induced to do so by Police assistance ; some few bring their
children for vaccination. I therefore beg to recommend that a permanent Police
Peon may be sanctioned.
BROACH.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon T. B. W. P. JOHNSTON (Acting).
Years.
1866 ...........
1867 ...........
Total.
Vaccinated.
974
1,226
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
252
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
894
1,094
Percentage
of Success.
91.8
89.2
The number of vaccinations performed during the last year amounts to 1,226,
showing an increase of 252 over that of the previous year.
Vaccination is constantly carried on in the City and surrounding neighbour-
hood, and the Vaccinator informs me that the people generally appear anxious to have
it performed. As far as I am able to judge, the Vaccinator appears attentive to his
duties, and the lymph is of good quality.
41
POONA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon Major R. G. LORD, M.D.
Years.
1866
1867 .........
Total
Vaccinated.
1,699
2,022
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
323
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,378
1,736
Percentage
of Success.
81.1
85.8
The Returns show an improvement, both in numbers and percentage of success,
over the preceding year.
" The City of Poona was, in communication with the Municipal and Police author-
ities, divided in February 1865 into three vaccinating charges, the smallest of which, in
the immediate vicinity of the Civil Hospital, was given to the Civil Station Vaccinator,
the other two being provided for by Vaccinators employed and paid by the Munici-
pality.
"The population of the Peits or Wards (six in number) intrusted to the Civil
Vaccinator is, according to the Mamlutdar's return, 12,323, in addition to which the
Vaccinator also works in the Civil limits, and, when required, attends at the houses of
officers and others in Civil departments residing in the Military lines. He does not
carry on vaccination in the Sudder Bazar, or among camp followers living within
Cantonment limits, that being the duty of the Vaccinator under the Military Staff
Surgeon.
" The numbers of vaccinations performed by the Civil Station Vaccinator according
to last three annual Reports, completed to 31st December each year, were—
1864....
1865....
1866....
Total..
1,878
1,537
1,699
5,114."
The above extract from a special Report made in September last gives the extent
of district, and numbers of vaccinations for the three preceding years, showing a
falling off in 1865 and 1866, which, however, appears now to have been recovered.
The Vaccinator, along with other servants of the old Civil Hospital Establishment, has
been transferred to the Sassoon Hospital, which is situated within the limits of his
former charge, and the returns of his work will henceforth be designated as those of the
"Sassoon Hospital Vaccinator," and will comprise, as hitherto, vaccinations performed
outside, as well as those done in the Hospital on the regular bi-weekly vaccinating
days.
6 v
42
AHMEDNUGGUR.
Two Vaccinators under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon H. T. DANN, B. A., (Acting),
one under Government, and one under the Municipality.
Establishment.
Government
....
Municipal ......
Years.
1866
1867
1866......
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
1,080
993
566
735
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
169
Decrease,
....
87
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
940
90S
491
669
Percentage
of Success.
87.0
91.4
86.8
91.0
It affords me much pleasure to indicate, what may be observed from the returns,
a considerable increase (166) in the number of vaccinations during the year 1866 over
those of 1865, and an increase of 182 in the number of operations in the year 1867 as
compared with the preceding year. It is also noteworthy that the percentage of suc-
cessful cases of vaccination has gone on. steadily increasing, being 79.9 in 1865, 86.9 in
1866, and 91.2 in 1867. There is a considerable increase in the number of vaccinations
effected by the Municipality Vaccinator this year as compared with last year's return,
566 vaccinations having been effected by him in 1866 as compared with 735 during
the year 1867, thus showing an increase of 169 in the latter year. It is obvious that
he is becoming better known and liked by the inhabitants. There has been a decrease
of 87 in the number of vaccinations effected by the Civil Surgeon's Vaccinator during
1867 as compared with 1866 ; the employment of two labourers in a field where there
was formerly only one may help to explain the decrease. At the Civil Hospitals the
number of cases, 126, showed an increase of 5 as contrasted with the preceding
year, while the number of cases vaccinated among the Police and in the Jail show an
increase respectively of 63 and 33, the gross total for the year 1866 being 1,817, while
that for 1867 was 1,950, thus indicating an increase for 1867 of 133 cases. In the
month of January seven cases of small-pox occurred in the Police Lines, four of
whom had been previously vaccinated ; all the cases were mild ones, and all recovered.
During the month of January small-pox was epidemic ; cases occurred at Bhingar and
at Nuggur. Vaccination was actively carried on at both places, as also among the
Police, when the disease broke out. Towards the end of the month of November three
cases having occurred in the Lines of the 3rd Dragoon Guards' camp followers, and one
case in the Lines of the 16th, I instituted a house-to-house visitation by Vaccinators,
and had every unprotected person within Cantonments vaccinated. Those vaccinations
are included in the above, and were effected by the Civil Surgeon's and the Munici-
pality's Vaccinators. I have much pleasure in testifying to their ability, industry,
and energy.
43
SATTARA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon H. V. CARTER, M.D.
Years.
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
1,611
1,344
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
267
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,536
1,270
Percentage
of Success.
95.3
94.5
During the year under review a decrease in the number of operations as com-
pared with the previous year, 1866, is observed, but many more children were
vaccinated than in 1865. In the Report for this last-named year reasons were given
which appeared to explain the sudden diminution of operations then noticeable ; these
being, first, the establishment of District Vaccinators (Municipal) ; and next, the non-
prevalence of small-pox. It is satisfactory to state that, notwithstanding the continued
operation of these two influences, the numbers vaccinated in Sattara are still consider-
able,* thus evincing efficiency of this establishment,
and probably a more enlightened disposition amongst
the people. There has again been a singular absence
in 1867 of the scourge small-pox amongst the inhabitants of this neighbourhood (as
well as of cholera) ; hence a powerful stimulus to the extension of vaccination has
been in a measure wanting. Yet the people are probably beginning to think and act
for the future, seeing that by far the majority of vaccinations at the Civil Hospital
are practised on children brought from a distance of many miles, sometimes twenty-
five or thirty, and that not under the impulse of fear.
* In 1865 . . . . . .
„ 1866 . . . . . .
„ 1867 . . . . . .
914.
1,611.
1,344.
The falling off in numbers during 1867 is almost entirely confined to the months
of March, April, and May.
The quality of the lymph has been good ; only once (in February) did there
seem cause to seek for fresh lymph ; but that obtained from the Superintendent of these
parts did not " take." Since then there has been no ground for complaint.
The proportion of successful to unsuccessful cases is large. In other respects,
the returns under report do not call for further notice; but it may be added, in
conclusion, that it is very desirable any new arrangements for replacing the Police
Peon now taken away from the service of the Vaccinator be speedily carried out,
as one man cannot search for, or convey to hospital, the children he has to vaccinate,