NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
44
and yet without something like entreaty many parents will not bring their children ;
and they have often to be directly induced to carry out their promise to do so.
In fact, the Peon is indispensable, and if not soon replaced here the number of vaccina-
tions must necessarily diminish.
SHOLAPOOR.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon C. F. OGILVIE, M.D.
Years.
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
2,241
1,655
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
586
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1.753
1,229
Percentage
of Success.
78.2
74.3
During the year under report the number of persons vaccinated was 1,655, of
whom 887 were males, and 768 were females ; 666 were children under one year of
age, and 989 were above that age ; 1,229 were successful, 185 doubtful, and 241 were
unsuccessful.
There is a considerable falling off in the number of operations, as compared with
the previous year, when 2,241 children were vaccinated. This is owing to the Vac-
cinator having been sentenced in the month of August to six months' rigorous impri-
sonment in the Criminal Jail at Sholapoor for rioting; since that date the duties have
been carried on by the Vaccinator attached to the Sholapoor Charitable Dispensary.
During a residence of nearly six years at this station I have taken very great interest in
this work, and it is therefore with much regret that I find the percentage of successful
operations during the year under report amounts only to 74.3, and, including the cases
returned as doubtful, to 85.4. This low percentage of success may be attributed to the
want of care by the Vaccinator in selecting subjects for the operation; but, whatever is
the reason, I am sure it is not attributable to the quality of the lymph, for in every
instance, without any exception, where I have performed the operation, whether upon
European or Native, it has been successful.
There is, however, very little doubt that the natives here do not, as a rule, ap-
preciate the blessing of this almost certain preventive against small-pox, otherwise the
number of operations upon children under one year of age would be much greater
than it now is ; and I feel convinced that until vaccination be made compulsory by law,
as it is in England, upon children before a certain age, much more favourable results
will not be attained.
45
DHOOLIA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon G. BAINBRIDGE (Acting).
Year.
1866 ...............
1867 ...............
Total
Vaccinated.
792
808
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
16
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
694
710
Percentage
of Success.
87.6
87.9
My predecessor, Dr. Cates, has drawn up a Report upon the results of vaccination
at this station during the first eleven months of the year.
The total number vaccinated during the year is 808, of which 710 were success-
ful and 59 unsuccessful, 39 doubtful and re-vaccinated; 630 of the total number of
persons vaccinated were under one year old, and 178 above one year.
The increase of cases vaccinated as compared with the previous year's results is
16, and the percentage of successful cases 87.9 ; of the persons vaccinated, 445 were
males and 363 females.
There is a great want of readiness among the inhabitants to submit their children
to vaccination, and this unwillingness appears to exist chiefly among the higher castes.
These people do not absolutely refuse to have their infants vaccinated, nor do they
offer any argument against the operation, but they constantly procrastinate, and tell
the Vaccinator that the next day and the next their children shall be produced, and
sometimes go so far as to say that they have no children requiring vaccination, when
such is not the case ; others refuse to allow lymph to be taken from their children's
arms.
I have written officially to Mr. Sheppard, the Collector and Magistrate of
Khandeish, requesting him to cause a register of births and deaths in this town to be
instituted, and to furnish me with a copy of the same each month. I believe such a
register would assist in bringing under our notice the infants requiring vaccination.
The assistance at the disposal of the Assistant Vaccinator to help him in collect-
ing the cases under treatment is totally inadequate, and I have no doubt that were we
to have permanent servants to assist us, a large number of people would be brought
forward for vaccination.
Shaik Emam, the Vaccinator, has been most assiduous in the performance of his
duties, and has given complete satisfaction.
Vaccination Report for 11 months, from 1st January to 30th November 1867.
"Being about to leave the station, and the year having nearly expired, it becomes
my duty to draw up a brief Report of Vaccination, during the period already elapsed,
46
for the information of my successor and for embodiment in his annual Report. During
the eleven months under review the total number of persons vaccinated has been 739.
Of these, 402 were males and 337 females; 587 were under one year old, and 152 above
that age ; 647 are returned as successful, 55 unsuccessful, and 37 as doubtful, showing
a percentage of successful cases of 8.75, which is almost identical with that for the
whole year of 1866.
" As regards these results, though there is no falling off as compared with the pre-
vious year, yet I cannot look upon them as quite satisfactory in a large town like
Dhoolia. The same difficulty has been experienced in collecting children, and afterwards
getting them brought for inspection, as was alluded to in my last Report; and the
difficulty is now likely to be enhanced, in consequence of the Vaccinator, in accordance
with a late Resolution of Government, having lately lost the services of the Peon who
formerly assisted him. I have written, through Dr. Wright, to the Inspector General
on this subject, so I need not enter into it again here. A great desideratum, in my
opinion, is some efficient system of registration of births in the town, a copy of which
register, if kept, might be sent monthly to the Civil Surgeon for his information for
vaccination purposes, and it was my intention to have addressed the Collector officially
on this subject.
" The lymph has been of good quality, producing characteristic vesicles, and has
been several times supplied to neighbouring stations.
" The Vaccinator, Shaik Emam, has given me entire satisfaction in the perform¬
ance of his duties."
NASSICK.
One Vaccinator under Sub-Assistant Surgeon A. SUMMERS.
Years.
1866 ........
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
763
1,079
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
316
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
621
3,029
Percentage
of Success.
81.4
95.3
I have the gratification of reporting very favourably upon vaccination carried on
during the year just expired. The return exhibits a very large increase in the number
operated upon, namely, 1,079, an increase of 316 compared with the previous year.
Of the numbers operated upon, 584 were males and 495 females, and the result was
47
1,029 successful cases, 32 unsuccessful, and 18 doubtful. This result was brought about
from a Peon being detached throughout the year to assist in this operation, enabling
the Assistant Vaccinator to operate more frequently and more extensively in the town,
and seeing almost every case operated upon, even those from neighbouring villages,
who generally attended at the Civil Hospital.
I reported last year that small-pox and measles prevailed for three months in
1866 amongst the African children at the Sharanpoor Institution. I am happy
to report that during the past year both it and the town of Nassick enjoyed an
immunity from epidemic in any form.
I feel it my duty to bear testimony in a highly favourable manner to the
zealous attention to his duties evinced by the Assistant Vaccinator during the past
year; his operations, carried on more extensively, showed a praiseworthy result.
BELGAUM.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon R. C. THORP, M.D. (Acting).
Years.
1866 .............
1867 .............
Total
Vaccinated.
612
803
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
191
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
595
759
Percentage
of Success.
97.2
94.5
There are two Vaccinators in this town, both able men ; the one paid by the
Municipality,* and the other by Government. By the above Report the Government
Vaccinator has operated on 803 individuals during the past year, and the Municipal
Vaccinator, by the Dispensary Report, on 746. Thus in this town, and the surrounding
villages of the township and Shapoor, 1,549 persons have availed themselves of the pro-
phylactic in the past year. By the annual return for 1866 of my predecessor the total
number vaccinated was 1,335 ; the increase of 214 is satisfactory, and proves that the
prophylactic is appreciated.
The Government Vaccinator has, besides the above, vaccinated in the Sudder
and Cantonment Bazaar 130, and in the Lines of the Garrison and detail 55,
making a total of 1,734 vaccinated by these operators during the year 1867.
* This Vaccinator's work is shown by the Superintendent of Vaccination, Southern Circle, along
with that of other Municipal Vaccinators under him.
48
DHARWAR.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon M. M. MACKENZIE.
Years.
1866 ..........
1867 ..........
Total
Vaccinated.
597
635
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
38
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
491
548
Percentage
of Success.
82.3
86.3
The accompanying Return of vaccination for the year 1867 shows the number
to have been 635, or an increase of 38 over that of the preceding year; the percentage
of success being 86.3, while the preceding year it stood at 82.3 : of the whole 635
548 proved successful. The greatest number vaccinated in any one month was 74,
in February; then followed March, April, and May, giving respectively 63, 61, and 56.
As to caste, 462 were Hindoos, 160 Mussulmans, 11 Christians, 1 Parsee, and 1 of
other caste.
Sex.—360 were males, 275 females.
Age.—Under one year 255 were vaccinated, and above that period 380.
The vaccine matter has been abundant and good, and assistance has been
extended by giving it to the District Vaccinator, as well as to the Medical Officer of
Her Majesty's 12th Regiment N.I. In April last I put a stop to the Vaccinator acting
for the 12th Regiment, as I believed the orders of Government are, that regiments
keep up their own vaccination. During October I prevailed upon the Municipality
to grant the Vaccinator the assistance of a Peon while going his rounds, and I trust
that this will greatly conduce to an extension of vaccination.
The Vaccinator meets with no obstruction in the execution of his duties, and I
have again the pleasure to bear witness to his steady and zealous behaviour ; he seems
to possess the confidence of the natives.
KOLAPOOR.
One Vaccinator under Apothecary C. ANDING.
Years.
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated:
1,674
1,751
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
77
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,662
1,740
Percentage
of Success.
99.3
99.3
49
During the past year the number of vaccinations performed by the Station
Vaccinator in the City of Kolapoor, with the whole of the villages of the Petta Kurveer,
amounts to 1,751, which is more than that of the year preceding by 77, and less than
the average of the 5 preceding years by 476. Of the total number vaccinated in the year
under report 880 were males and 871 females; 401 were children under one year, and
the remaining 1,350 were above that age. The percentage of the successful cases has
been 99.3.
The monthly average number of vaccinations performed has been 145.9. The
average for the previous five years gives a decrease of 476 cases, whereas that
exhibited in the previous year under this head amounted to 793, thus showing that
there has been a considerable improvement in the state of vaccination for the year
under report.
During the year a few isolated cases of small-pox occurred in four villages of
the Kurveer Petta, namely, Kulumba, Negwa, Nundgaum, and Kunary, but the
disease was never reported to have shown itself in an epidemic form.
The lymph in use has been of good quality, and has not failed. Lymph was
supplied, as usual, to the Camp, and to some of the Vaccinators serving under
the Superintendent of Vaccination, Southern Circle, when required. The Station
Vaccinator was diligent and attentive to his duties, and his conduct, on the whole,
has been satisfactory.
The annual Vaccination Return of the Dispensary is also annexed, from which
it will be seen that 246 cases vaccinated during the year have proved successful;
this number is greater than that exhibited in the previous year's return by 21 cases.
The vesicles have always presented the normal character of the vaccine pock.
AHMEDABAD.
Two Vaccinators under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon Major J. PIRIE, M.D. (Acting).
Two Vaccinators under the Municipality.
Years.
1866 ........
1867 ........
Total
Vaccinated.
5,619
4,273
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
1,416
Successfully
Vaccinated.
5,505
4,153
Percentage
of Success.
96.8
97.2
Compared with the previous year, there has been a considerable decrease in the
total number of vaccinations for the year that has just closed, in which 4,273 were
performed, and in the preceding year 5,689, showing a diminution of 1,416. But
7 v
50
though there has been this unexpected falling off, the results have been more favour-
able, as the percentage of success was 97.2, and for the previous year 96.8. The
failures were 81, and 39 doubtful. So that in respect of protective influence the work
done has been a fair average.
The total operations of each of the two Vaccinators for the year respectively were
1,883 and 2,390, exhibiting a difference of 507, which is to be attributed to the
circumstance that in the district of one Vaccinator small-pox was prevalent, and there-
fore the inhabitants of that part of the city were awakened to the prophylactic benefits
of vaccination. As regards sex, 2,235 were in males and 2,038 in females, and, as Dr.
Wyllie observed, this preponderance in females is a hopeful sign of the increasing care
for the protection of female offspring. In respect of age, 2,804 were under one year
and 1,469 over one year. In each caste there has not been much difference in the
total vaccinated, but there has been an increase in the Parsee section. The greatest
number of vaccinations were effected in the months of April, May, June, and July,
when numerous cases of small-pox occurred, which doubtless caused the people to seek
for the protective power of vaccination; as, on the other hand, when fever, bowel com-
plaints, and chest affections prevail, parents are averse to submit their children for
operation, though the Vaccinators visit the dwellings to meet their convenience. The
least number vaccinated in one month was 302, in September, and the highest 423, in
June.
The lymph has continued good and efficient, the vesicles well formed, clean, and
distinctive, and supplies have been kept up and furnished to the Cantonment and out-
stations.
Small-pox and measles were frequent in March, April, and May, and a few isolated
cases in January, July, and September ; 50 deaths were reported. As the population
of this large city is fluctuating, and sometimes there is a large immigration from the
neighbouring States, small-pox is no doubt imported, and but for the agency of the
Municipal vaccine establishment the disease would widely spread and the mortality be
great. Inoculation has been discontinued altogether in Ahmedabad; and, except that
the people are backward in bringing forward their children, no obstruction to the propa-
gation of vaccination appears to exist. After being operated on, parents frequently con-
ceal their children, as they imagine that taking lymph from the vesicles impairs the
successful result. Though the work done by the Vaccinators has fallen considerably
below that of the previous year, Dr. Wyllie bears testimony to their industry and zeal.
I regret I am unable to give a fuller report from personal observation of the vaccination
for the past year, as I only received charge of the Civil medical duties in the early
part of December last.
51
KAIRA.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon H. COOK, M.D. (Acting).
Years.
1866 .........
1867 .........
Total
Vaccinated.
668
867
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
199
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
590
764
Percentage
of Success.
88.3
81.1
The total number of cases of vaccination for the past year has been 867, show-
ing, I am happy to say, an increase of 199 over the total number of operations during
the preceding year ; of this total all but 76 have been among children under one year
old ; 521 were males, 346 females. The great majority of cases were necessarily
among the Hindoo population, among whom 782 operations were performed, 57 cases
were among the Mussulmans, 27 among unspecified castes, and one among the
Christian community. No Parsee individual was submitted to the operation ; but this
section of the community is exceedingly limited in Kaira, and they are, as a rule,
exceedingly averse to the operation.
With regard to the result, that has, I consider, been very fair, the return showing
only 26 unsuccessful cases, while 77 are set down as doubtful. A great deal of want
of success is attributable to the carelessness of the parents, who do not take sufficient
care of the vesicle while it is being developed, as they take little trouble to guard it
from irritation, or prevent the child from destroying it altogether.
The work of the Vaccinator is, of course principally performed in the town of
Kaira, but it is not absolutely limited to it, as he goes to villages in the immediate
neighbourhood when subjects in the town itself are scarce ; and in this way he is fre-
quently able to maintain the supply of lymph, when he would otherwise be almost sure
to lose it if confined to the town alone. Some improvements have been introduced
in his system of work. One hindrance which formerly existed has now been
removed: formerly when he went to the town on his business he was given a
Peon at random by the Municipality to assist in collecting the children, and this was
found to cause serious delay and difficulty ; but now, by an arrangement made with
the Collector, it is ordered that the same Peon should attend him always; consequently
he knows where to find the recently vaccinated and the unvaccinated children without
delay.
52
The character of the lymph and vesicles has been very good throughout the year,
and the vaccination has been satisfactorily performed. The supply of lymph has been
continuous and abundant. The children vaccinated have been inspected at intervals of
about a month's duration throughout the year, and the result was in all cases satisfac-
tory.
The inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood are now well acquainted with
the benefits of vaccination, and willingly submit themselves or their children to it,
and, with the exception perhaps of the Parsees, I do not think that there is any con-
siderable number who entertain any serious objections to the operation on the ground
of caste or similar prejudices.
As to the beneficial results of the operation, I may say that there has been no
epidemic small-pox here for a long time; and although I have no doubt isolated
cases do occur here and there, they cannot be very numerous, as I have never had to
prescribe for one, nor have I seen one during my residence here ; and, as well as
my memory serves me, I do not think I have seen during the past year a single
case where any one has borne the recent marks of the disease. I do not think that
inoculation is now ever practised here, as I have never heard of a case, though I have
frequently made inquiries on the subject.
RAJCOTE.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon A. M. BLOMFIELD (Acting).
Years.
1866 .............
1867 ............
Total
Vaccinated.
1,646
999
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
Decrease.
....
647
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,507
940
Percentage
of Success.
91.6
94.1
Of the number entered in this return the greater part have been vaccinated in the
town of Rajcote and in villages. These will in future be kept separate, under the
head of Chief's Vaccinators.
The percentage of successful cases is much higher than anything I have inspected,
and I question if more than two out of three are really successful in the first vaccina-
tion.
53
KURRACHEE.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon N. HOPKINS (Acting).
Years.
1866 ..........
1867 ..........
Total
Vaccinated.
3,167
3,411
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
244
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
2,988
3,265
Percentage
of Success.
94.3
95.6
From the above table it it will be seen that there is an increase of 244 people vac-
cinated during the last year over 1866, and of 297 over 1865, and of 1,447 over 1864,
which is a fair criterion that vaccination is increasing, and that the prejudice against
it is in a great measure overcome in Sind; and I think that most of those parents
who leave their children to grow up unprotected do so from indifference, and from no
particular prejudice against it. Of the number vaccinated most were quite children—
those belonging to Kurrachee were generally under one year ; but it is satisfactory to see
men of all ages from the Mekran Coast (Puttans and others who come with kafilas from
Cabool and elsewhere) come voluntarily to the Hospital to be vaccinated—not a very
large number, it is true, but many come. Lymph and vesicles have been good through-
out the year.
There were a few cases of small-pox during the past year amongst some of the
poor people, introduced, I heard, by some Mekranees, but no death, that I am aware
of, occurred.
No case of inoculation has been brought to my notice, and I do not think it is
practised in Kurrachee.
There is no doubt in my mind that much benefit would result if another
Vaccinator were appointed to Kurrachee, and there is plenty of work for two in the
City and suburbs, the whole of Camp, and the whole distance from Ghizree Bunder to
Kurrachee, a distance of twelve miles, with a population of about a million.
HYDRABAD.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon J. F. FFOLLIOTT (Acting).
Years.
1866 ...........
1867 ...........
Total
Vaccinated.
2,022
1,702
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase-
....
....
Decrease.
....
320
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,881
1,615
Percentage
of Success.
93.0
94.9
54
The results of the past year show a decrease of 320 compared with the previous
year. This is owing to the work of the Assistant Vaccinator being now confined to the
town of Hydrabad, Giddoo-ka-Tanda and Fullellee being provided for by the Super-
intendent of Vaccination. Vaccination is performed in my presence at the Charitable
Dispensary twice a week, but some people refuse to send their children there, and the
Vaccinator is in such cases allowed to vaccinate at their own houses. Three cases of
variola were admitted to the Civil Hospital during the year ; but the disease has not
been prevalent, and these patients were adults over twenty-five years of age.
SHIKARPOOR.
One Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon S. DUCKERING (Acting).
Years.
1866
1867..........
Total
Vaccinated.
1,435
1,490
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
55
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,377
1,434
Percentage
of Success.
95.9
96.2
A few cases of small-pox were admitted into the Civil Hospital and the
Dispensary: the disease was of a mild character.
A few cases also occurred in the town.
The lymph continues very good.
KOTREE.
One Vaccinator (Municipality's) under the Civil Surgeon,
Assistant Surgeon J. WILLIAMS, M.D. (Acting).
Years.
1866 ..........
1867 .........
Total
Vaccinated.
654
893
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
239
Decrease.
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
548
810
Percentage
of Success.
83.8
90.7
Of the above 893 cases 420 were vaccinated in the town of Kotree, and 473 in
the Kotree District, where vaccination is also carried on under the Superintendent
of Vaccination for Sind. There are 36 doubtful cases ; i. e., cases that were not in-