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2. Previous to the past year the history of vaccination in Sind does not show
a single instance of a native of any position whatsoever, high or low, having made
an application for the service of a vaccinator, except in a few instances, made under
the dread of the actual existence of small-pox in an epidemic form, in the neighbour-
hood of the applicants, and under the belief that inoculation was illegal. This is not
an encouraging statement after twenty years' practice of vaccination, though it is
modified by the fact that vaccination was carried out to a very limited extent up to
the period when my predecessor, Surgeon Martin, was appointed Superintendent
of Vaccination in Sind ten years ago. Since then vaccination has greatly progressed,
and again in the last two years it has been still further and more completely spread
by the assistance of the local vaccinators. There seems now to be a change in favour of
vaccination, indicating that its benefits are becoming more appreciated by the leaders of
the people, for during the past year I received applications from the following places
for the service of a vaccinator, viz : talookas of Kusmore, Meerpoor Khas, Kotree,
Alliyar-ka-Tanda, Bola Khan's Thana, Meerpoor Matelo, Buddeen, Bage-ka-Tanda,
and Doaba. The requests emanated from zemindars, native officials, and others. Their
requests were made through revenue officials and vaccinators, a few were also made
direct to myself. It is quite certain that all were not made under the dread of the
actual presence of small-pox. It is impossible for me to say whether all or any of the
applicants would have preferred inoculation to vaccination, but one application con-
tained a request that if a vaccinator could not be given, they might be allowed " to
inoculate in their own way." It is encouraging to see the leaders of the people
coming forward in this way and I hope the feeling in favour of vaccination will gra-
dually spread throughout the mass of the population : but the day is still probably
far distant when the humble and illiterate Sindhi mother will look forward to the
vaccinating of her child, as a duty to herself, her child, and to the State.
3. Another thing I would notice in reference to the gradual effect which the spread
of vaccination has produced, and it may be considered very strong evidence of the
Sindhis knowing well what the advantages of vaccination are. It is this : in the tappi-
darate of Jurruck, when Lalloo was vaccinating there last September, there was a
disease among horned cattle, which the people considered to be " mata " (cow-pox)
and they asked that vaccinator to operate on their beasts. I did not hear of this
until the disease had abated, but I told Lalloo he might gratify their wish, though
from the description of the disease I do not think it was cow-pox, at least I could
not get any information regarding the existence of pocks on any part of the bodies of
the affected animals. I think in all this there is good reason to infer that vaccination
is beginning to be more appreciated than heretofore among the better off and better
informed part of the people.
4. The fact is still only too evident that thousands of people submit their children
to be vaccinated merely because it is the wish of Government that they should do so,
for their faith is very strong in Government doing every thing for their good ; on
account of this faith it is seldom that the vaccinators meet with any opposition, and