NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
( vii )
in the Northern Division and the Rewa Kanta 60.3 in the former and 62.3 per-
cent. in the latter. This bears out the remark of Dr. Dick who, in the year 1863,
stated " that the unwillingness to submit young infants to vaccination, which is
observed elsewhere, is rarely met with in Guzerat."
17. The immense utility of successful vaccination in infancy, cannot be too
much impressed on the minds of the people. One Superintendent (Northern
Division, Guzerat) has remarked, "one is struck at once with the general
freedom, from the marks of small-pox and other deformities, produced by theis
disease, among the young population, while among the old inhabitants are seen
the scarred, blind and the otherwise horribly deformed by this loathsome scourge."
In the city of Shikarpore under Mr. Ffolliott, Civil Surgeon, who has paid
particular attention to the perfect vaccination of the place, there were vaccinated
98 per cent. under one year. It is greatly to be regretted that in Bombay itself
vaccination under one year is not more extensively carried on, 40.5 per cent.
only being vaccinated below one year of age.
Character of lymph.
18. The lymph, or vaccine virus, has been ascertained by the Superin-
tendents and officers in charge to have been generally
of good quality. A few exceptions were, however
reported. Dr. Cook, in the Northern Circle, observed in two or three cases that
the vesicles were not so good as he could have desired. In the Southern Circle
Dr. Day found some vaccinators working with doubtful lymph, and the same in
the Western Circle. In only one instance in Sind did Dr. Pinkerton ascertain
deterioration. In all these cases the lymph was replaced.
Supply of lymph.
19. In paragraphs 33 and 34 of the report forwarded by the Principal In-
spector General for the year 1865, it was pointed out
that much difficulty existed in Bombay in keeping up
the supply of fresh lymph. In Bombay arm to arm vaccination becomes every
day more and more difficult, as will be observed in the extract from the Superin-
tendent's report, indeed the unwillingness of the people to permit of direct vacci-
nation is the worst enemy the prophylactic possesses and frequently causes the
stoppage of the work.
20. To obviate somewhat this difficulty, and at the same time to give fresh
vaccine matter to the country, the Government addressed the Secretary of State
for India on the subject and, in communication with the National Vaccine In-
stitution, lymph was forwarded in December 1865 and 1866. The greater part
of the last supply, somewhat small for the purpose, was on ivory points, a mode
( viii )
of transmission in which no confidence can be placed. It was immediately distri-
buted to the Officers of the various Circles, as follows:—
Presidency
Western
Central
Northern
Southern
Sind
Rewa Kanta
Tube, result.
successful
....
inert
inert
successful
inert
inert
Ivory Point, result.
successful.
inert.
inert.
inert.
successful.
inert.
inert.
21. The periodical supply of fresh lymph is much to be desired. I would
therefore again beg to suggest that the annual supply may be sent only in tubes,
and that it may if possible be increased.
22. The lymph sent to Aden, of 1866, where it was greatly needed, from
the failure of the supply of 1865 and the failure of all the supplies sent from
Bombay, was very successful, and up to date had lost none of its characteristic
properties.
Small-pox.
23. The occurrence of small-pox, judging from the returns of the Superin-
tendents, was not observed to any great extent during
the year. It was reported to have attacked some of the
villages in Kattiawar. It broke out in a Thakore's village in the Northern
Division; in his fear he sent for a vaccinator, had the children all operated on, and
stayed the progress of the disease, the man's services " were so highly appreciated
that he was dismissed with a handsome present." In Sind small-pox was
reported on occasionally during the year, in two instances or more it was as-
certained to have been a false alarm. Dr. Pinkerton gives an interesting account
of an outbreak of the disease in a village where many of the Hindoo inhabitants
had a few months before refused to permit their children to be vaccinated, the
greater part of these were attacked and a sad mortality ensued. In the Rewa
Kanta scattered cases occurred.
24. In Bombay the deaths from small-pox in 1866 were 1,079, nearly double
the number of the previous year. The deaths from this disease fluctuate much,
the average for ten years inclusive of 1866 gives 880. There were three addi-
tional vaccinators employed during the year, but the means for giving full scope to
the utility of the establishment have yet to be considered. At Aden small-pox is
generally present, and is for the most part an imported disease. In London, with
( ix )
a population of about 3 millions, the death rate from small-pox was in 1864, 0.18
per mille. In Bombay in the same year it was 2.05.
25. The practice of inoculation of small-pox has not been very prominent
or much noticed during the year. Sind appears to be the only Circle where
an overt act of inoculation occurred. It was a single case, fully proved. The
operator was taken before a Magistrate, and punishment awarded, but as the law
cannot take cognizance in this country of this as an offence, the Magistrate's
decision was overruled by the Sudder Court of Sind. The wise measures
however adopted by the Commissioner rendered the apparent victory of no avail
to the inoculator and his class. Dr. Pinkerton narrates a little incident of vacci-
nation and inoculation which is interesting. The child of one of the Ameers in
Sind had been vaccinated, doubts and fears however lingered in the breasts of the
family, and the inoculator was at last called in; there was considerable anxiety
displayed as to the issue of this crucial experiment. The vaccination however
stood the test to the satisfaction of the Ameer, who bestowed a gift on the
vaccinator.
26. The necessity for suppressing inoculation must always be kept in view,
and in the absence of legal measures it can only be accomplished by vaccination
being always at hand. It slumbers so long as the young population are guarded
by vaccination. Any laxity of superintendence however, or want of general
energy in the Department, would assuredly cause its re-appearance more perhaps
to provide for a want than for any love to an operation which is sometimes
followed by such sad results as great mortality and spread of the disease.
27. The aid afforded to the Superintendents by the Civil and Political autho-
rities, and by the Native officials to the working men in their progress is fully
and warmly acknowledged, there is no doubt that without the assistance thus
given the vaccinators' returns would be infinitely smaller. Another kind of aid is
that rendered by the Chiefs of Native States being brought to view the prophy-
lactic in its proper light, and as a consequence setting up small establishments to
the great good of their people. Some Native States are however backward, and
that of "the Hubshee," in close vicinity to Bombay, is one of these. Municipali-
ties too aid in the march of vaccination, and will, it is to be hoped, add to their
utility year by year. There have been seven added during the year under
record.
It gives me much pleasure to express my acknowledgments to the Superin-
tendents during the year, their intelligent and earnest work has been highly satis-
factory.
2 vac
(
x )
The establishments, and many vaccinators individually, have been favourably
noticed by their Superintendents, and it appears to me that the liberality of Go-
vernment, already extended to these hard working men, has been productive of
good.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. S. ARNOTT, M.D.,C.B.,
Inspector General, Medical Department.
Bombay, 31st March 1867.
VACCINATION UNDER SUPERINTENDENTS.
CENTRAL CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon P. S. TURNBULL, M.D.
Establishment.—Thirty
Six Vaccinators (Government)
Two Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
One Vaccinator (Municipality).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government ..
Native Chiefs ..
Municipality ..
YEARS.
1865
1866
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
63,251
61,543
1,915
953
....
213
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
....
....
213
Decrease.
....
1,708
....
962
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
59,350
57,847
1,763
786
....
190
Per-centage
of Success.
93.8
94.0
92.1
82.5
....
89.2
The number of operations performed during the past, though less than that of
the preceding year, nevertheless shows, I think, that the members of the establishment
generally have worked zealously and well.
Causes of decrease.
The causes of the above decrease are—
1. The all but total absence of small-pox throughout the Circle, and conse-
quently, in the eyes of the people, of any necessity for having the operation per-
formed.
2. To attempt at introducing vaccination into districts (especially in the
collectorate of Kulladghee) hitherto very little or never visited by a vaccinator.
v 1
2
3. That the first of these causes existed will be apparent as soon as the Annual
Return of small-pox is submitted.
During my tour in Khandeish and Ahmednuggur, in the beginning of the year,
I neither heard of nor saw a single case, and the Monthly Returns of the vaccinators
show that very few cases came under their observation.
4. Any one who has any practical acquaintance with vaccination, as carried on in
this country, is aware of the immense effect which an epidemic of small-pox has upon
its people and how they then seek the protection of the prophylactic ; and also, he is
aware how indifferent they are to vaccination in the absence of such influence.
5. During the year 1864, small-pox was very prevalent throughout this Circle,
and while in 1865 only a few sporadic cases occurred, the past year has been remark-
able for all but its entire absence. The influence the occurrences of these years
had on vaccination is shown in the following figures showing the numbers operated
on in each year:—
1863.........................................
1864.........................................
1865.........................................
1866
47,646
69,299
63,251
61,543
6. But the second cause alone will account for more than the whole of the de-
crease. On making an examination of the records of this office it became apparent
to me that certain talookas of the Kulladghee collectorate especially, had not for
years, at least, been visited by a vaccinator.
7. In consequence of this, I directed Assistant Vaccinators, No. 88 Jairam
Krishna, No. 133 Swamyrao Rungoo, and No. 168 Gungadhur Ramchunder, to
operate respectively in the Hoongood, the Mungolee, and the Heepurgee talookas of
the collectorate of Kulladghee. Much opposition was met with, especially in the two
latter talookas. General No. 133, a man of good character, and possessed of consi-
derable persuasive and conciliatory powers, reported weekly the great opposition and
indifference manifested by the inhabitants towards vaccination, and on one occasion
that he had actually been assaulted while in the performance of his duty. For the pur-
pose of sustaining the latter charge there was not, as may easily be imagined, sufficient
proof; one or even two men's words is of no avail against a whole village ! Very fre-
quent references were made to the Magistrates of the district, but even their influence
was not sufficient to overcome the opposition. In one case they actually signed a peti-
tion to the Mamlutdar stating that they did not wish their children vaccinated.
Though very little comparatively was done, I feel confident that this vaccinator will
meet with more success when he again visits this district.
In the Heepurgee Talooka matters were even worse, and after a few months' trial
the vaccinator had to be withdrawn.
In Hoongood Talooka matters were not quite so bad.
3
8. Now mark the influence this opposition had on the returns of these vaccina-
tors as compared with the year preceding. Their respective numbers were—
No. 88, Jairam Krisna ...................
No. 133, Swamyrow Rungoo ............
No. 168, Gungadhur Ramchunder ........
1865.
2,006
2,246
1,674
1866.
1,713
1,261
795
Total Decrease....
Decrease in
1866.
293
985
879
2,157
or more by 449 than the total decrease of the entire Circle for the past year, and I
attribute the decrease shown at the head of this report to the extraordinary opposition
met with by these men.
9. The highest number vaccinated by a single person was performed by General
No. 157 Balloo Ryajee Chulka. He vaccinated 3,146 persons. The average num-
ber of operations by the vaccinators of this Circle, excluding those employed as Kar-
koons in my office, is 1,810 each.
Sex.
10. Of the total number of operations 32,211 were males, and 29,332 were
females, giving a percentage 52.3 and 47.5 respectively,
or very nearly the same as the preceding year.
Caste.
11. The following table shows the numbers per cent.
of each caste vaccinated during the past and preceding
year : —
YEARS.
1865
1866
Christians.
0.7
1.7
Hindoos.
89.3
87.9
Mussulmans.
4.3
4.5
Parsees.
0.02
..
Other Castes.
6.2
5.9
And shows very little change except as regards Christians. The greater number of
them (1,047) were vaccinated by General No. 38 Babajee Yadoo (himself a Chris-
tian) while employed in and around Bassein.
Age.
12. The number of infants operated on is greater than that recorded in any
previous year, and shows that the people are beginning;
to appreciate the benefits derivable from early vaccination ;
24.9 of the operations were on children under one year of age. Greater attention is
4
now paid to this subject, and I am of opinion that the registers are more accurately
kept than formerly. But while such is the result with regard to infantile vaccination,
it is most interesting to note that several cases of re-vaccination in grown up persons
have come under my observation during the year, and if any sign that the people are
beginning to appreciate vaccination was wanted, what could be better than this.
Would that the practice was more general.
Result.
13. The percentage of success is almost the same as it was in 1865, there
being a difference of 1/10 of a per cent. only. Not a single
false name was discovered during the year. The vaccine
lymph has been generally active and the vesicles normal, though in some cases not so
well developed as they ought to have been.
Vaccination in Collectorates.
14. The following table will show sufficiently and clearly the progress of vacci-
nation in the several collectorates comprised in this Circle,
with regard to their population :—
COLLECTORATES.
Ahmednuggur ...........
Poona ........................
Khandesh ..................
Kulladghee ...............
(Western Circle), Tanna .
Population.
12,52,789
10,93,693
7,78,112
6,13,479
8,25,077
Number vac-
cinated in
1865.
15,319
14,320
13,820
7,783
12,009
Number vac-
cinated in
1866.
13,978
12,487
14,035
5,001
16,042
Number vaccinated in
1866 compared with-
1865.
Increase.
....
....
215
....
4,033
Decrease.
1,341
1,833
....
2,782
....
Vaccination under Muni-
cipalities.
15. Slowly, but surely, this means of extending vaccination is taking root in this
Circle. In Kandeish the funds of the Municipalities are
not yet in a sufficiently flourishing state to admit of their
entertaining vaccinators at their own expense. In the
collectorate of Tanna, the Town of Tanna is the only Municipal Town which enter-
tains a vaccinator. In the collectorate of Poona I am happy to be able to report that
during the past year the Municipal Commissions of Sholapoor, Punderpoor, Barsee,
and Baramuttee have agreed to employ a vaccinator each. Poona itself has already
done so. Beejapoor is the only town in the Kulladghee collectorate which entertains
one. The returns are herewith sent.
16. With regard to Municipal vaccination in the collectorate of Nuggur, I
addressed the Collector, Mr. D'Oyly, about three months ago, but have not as yet
received any reply. The town of Nuggur is the only one in the collectorate which has
5
a vaccinator of its own. He is not assisted in any way and receives no compensation,
as all other Municipal servants do, for dearness of grain. He get Rs. 10 per month.
Small-pox.
17. As already stated in paragraph 3, not a single case of small-pox came under
my observation, and very few have been reported to me
during the past year. Whether this is a sign of a good
and effectual protection time alone can tell; but in the meantime it appears satis-
factory. Returns of small-pox will, as soon as received from the several collectorates,
be forwarded in the usual collective form.
Inoculation.
18. No case of fresh inoculation has been reported to me during the year, but
instances have been communicated in which marked traces
were observable of the inoculator having been (though
not very recently) carrying on his dangerous occupation. For instance, the vaccinator
(General No. 58) employed in the Mahim talooka of the collectorate of Tanna,
(General No. 40) employed in the Mawul talooka of the collectorate of Poona, and
(General No. 13) also the vaccinator employed in the Trimbuk Petta of the Nassick
talooka of the Nuggur Zilla, reported such cases. The two latter talookas are close
on the borders of the Tanna collectorate, just above the Ghauts. The inhabitants
are principally coolies and take to vaccination or any thing else recommended to
them, quite kindly. The children of the villages visited by these vaccinators bore
undoubted marks of inoculation as well as deep pitting from small-pox.
Inoculation had been resorted to during the absence of the vaccinator from the
talooka. Indeed this appears to be nearly always the case, these men not daring to
show their faces when there is a vaccinator in the neighbourhood, the only man who
will report him. The whole work is carried on with the connivance, if not the
assistance, of the village officials, who receive a moiety of the fees obtained and are
consequently interested individuals. As there is not a vaccinator for each talooka,
and as the inoculator always carries on his dangerous occupation in the absence of
one, and also as it is always carried on with the connivance of the village officers, I
beg to suggest that patels and koolkoornees be held responsible, under some penalty
or other, that no inoculator follows his occupation within the limits of their respective
villages without reporting the case at once to the nearest Magistrate. Something
must be done ; these are dangerous centres of a loathsome and virulent disease which
may or may not spread over the whole country, causing death and devastation on its
track, and are I believe, in nine cases out of ten, the cause of at least local outbreaks
of small-pox.
19. The vaccinators generally have conducted their duties in a satisfactory
manner ; of course there have been exceptions as the following statement will show:—
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Assistant Vaccinator No. 80, Govind Moray, transferred to Bombay.
Do.
do.
No. 160, Ramjee Bappoojee, transferred to Nuggur.
Do.
do.
No. 176, Balloo Salvec,
Apprentice do.
No. 269, Ragoo Vittul,
Do.
do.
No. 265, Wassoodeo S.
Dismissed the service for
indolence, disobedience,
&c.
6
The following have been entertained vice the above :—
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Babajee Moreshwur, General No.
Gunesh Bhow,
do.
Seetaram Suddashew, do.
Mahadeo Govind,
do.
Kondajee Mukundrow, do.
282.
288.
289.
290.
296.
Thus—two have been transferred to other appointments ; three dismissed the ser-
vice, and five in place of them entertained.
Husband's Capillary tubes.
20. Tubes have been used more extensively during the past than in any previ-
ous year, but principally for transmitting lymph by post or
on the occasion of the sudden transfer of a vaccinator to a
considerable distance. They are not used as an alternative of arm to arm vaccination.
Lymph has been sent in them to Bombay and numerous other places. To the former,
a fortnightly supply for a period extending over several months, was sent, but never
having been informed of the result of its use, I am unable to record it.
Talooka Maps in the
Murathee.
21. I have been and am making endeavours to procure maps in the Murathee
language for each talooka in the Circle. Several have
been received and distributed and are found of the greatest
use, enabling the vaccinators to carry on their operations
in a systematic manner which was impossible formerly.
Resumè of Tour.
22. The tour during the past year was limited to three months. During the
remainder of the year, I was Acting Civil Surgeon of
Ahmednuggur. On the 1st January 1866 I was at
Malligaum in the collectorate of Khandeish. Thence I proceeded through the
talooka of that name, examining the work of General No. 60 Annuntrow Tatiajee.
The work was well performed, the lymph good and active, and the records of the vacci-
nator as well as the village officers correct. The registers of small-pox not having been
kept by the village officers, arrangements were made for their being attended to in the
future. In the middle of the month I entered the Dhoolia talooka where General No. 50
was carrying on his duties in a very satisfactory manner. Here again registers of
small-pox had not been kept, as indeed was the case in every talooka I visited, but in
communication with the Collector, Mr. Ashburner, proper arrangements were made
for the future respecting them. The Petta Songier was next inspected, the work of
General No. 50, and was found equally satisfactory with that of Dhoolia. I now
proceeded northwards to the Virdul talooka, where General No. 211 Balcrishna
Gopal, was working, but not quite in such a satisfactory manner as to meet with my
approval. He is a young man, and I am confident that on the next occasion on
which his work may be inspected the result will be much more satisfactory. His
lymph was not abundant but was good and active. It was here that lymph on
ivory points was received from England along with letter No. 64, dated the 6th Janu-
ary 1866, from the Secretary to the Principal Inspector General Medical Department,
and a trial of which resulted in complete failure as was reported in my letter No. 15,
8
Vaccination in Native States during the year 1866.
The Return shows a decrease of 962 operations as compared with last year.
The cause of this is clearly traceable to the change of vaccinators. Both the
vaccinators have been newly entertained during the past year. Akulkote was,
I regret to say, without one for some months, and ultimately I was obliged to
entertain a man in whom I had not very much confidence. The Raja not only pays
them badly and irregularly, but gives them no assistance whatever. In fact his
officials appear to take delight in obstructing instead of assisting him. The
vaccinator of last year refused to remain any longer in the Raja's service, and I
appointed him to the vaccinatorship under the Municipality of Beejapore.
In the Peint State a new and trustworthy man has been entertained, vice the
former one deceased. This is one of the most unhealthy districts in the Circle.
Malaria, bad water, &c., make fearful inroads on the health of the vaccinators. Last
year the vaccinator died: this year the new one was on sick leave for several months,
and on recovery, was induced to return to work only by the promise of higher pay.
On my recommendation the Revenue Commissioner increased his pay from that
of an apprentice to that of an assistant vaccinator, and allowed him Rupee one lymph
allowance. He is now working successfully. Service in the Pient Districts is limited
to one year at a time in the Revenue and Police Department.
SOUTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon H. DAY, M.D.
Establishment—Twenty-nine
Vaccinators (Government.).
Twenty-five Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
Ten Vaccinators (Municipalities).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government..
Native Chiefs.
Municipal ..
YEARS.
1865
1866
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
41,986
40,948
17,142
18,019
5,049
7,229
Compared with the pre-
ceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
877
....
2,180
Decrease.
....
1,038
....
....
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
39,779
38,961
15,912
17,066
4,524
6,655
Per-centage
of Success.
94.7
95.1
92.8
94.7
89.6
92.1