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It is with much pleasure I have to report a large increase in the total number of children
vaccinated during the year 1864, not only in comparison with the year 1863 but with any
previous year, the total number vaccinated, as per return 26,689, showing an increase of
5,570 on the year 1863, and an increase of 4,467 on the greatest total of any previous
year. The increase is due equally to the greater number vaccinated both by the Government
and Chiefs' vaccinators. The principal reasons of the increase are, increased assistance render-
ed by the Chiefs, the great support given by the Political Agent and his assistants, the
greater activity of the assistant vaccinators, and, lastly, the people are beginning to respond
to the interest the Governor and Government take in the subject.
To the Thakoor of Bhownuggur great thanks are due for his continual countenance and
assistance in forwarding the spread of this valuable preventive agent; he has just appointed
a fourth native vaccinator for his talooka, and a superintendent on 25 Rupees per mensem.
I have only two serious complaints to make about the Chiefs, one against the Wurdwan
Durbar for decreasing the vaccinator's pay to Rupees 7-8, and the other against the
Rajkote Durbar, who, on appointing a vaccinator of their own, prohibited the station
vaccinator from propagating the lymph. The consequence was, that he was unable to
circulate the lymph, and till fresh was procured nearly a fortnight was lost; there are not
sufficient children in the station of Rajkote to keep vaccine in circulation, and unless
the town of Rajkote and a few of the surrounding gaums are placed in the charge
of the station vaccinator it would be impossible to keep up a fresh supply of lymph
for the station. I have reported the matter to the Political Agent, who, I hope, will
make a satisfactory arrangement. The minor complaints against the Chiefs are, keeping
their vaccinators in arrears of pay, and employing them on other duties ; on the whole the
Chiefs have given more assistance during 1864 than any previous year. Three chtota Chiefs
who had steadily refused to have their children vaccinated, on my telling them the Governor
had all his children vaccinated, at last consented. The increased activity of the assistant
vaccinators is sufficiently proved by the return.
The per-centage of success again shows an improvement; this is attributable, as last year.
to the still greater care and attention of the assistant vaccinators and the improved state of
lymph. I hope it will continue to improve, as I have lately introduced some new lymph
from Ahmedabad which is superior to the old Kattywar lymph ; at present it has only been
propagated in one talooka, but I have forwarded supplies of it in tubes and on glasses to
three other talookas. The lymph, when practicable, is taken fresh from child to child, but
when the gaums are far apart, on glasses. My assistant vaccinators have not yet learnt
to fill tubes; I have tried to teach three of them, but at present they have not succeeded in
sending me a single tube fit for use. The only tubes forwarded for transmission of lymph
have been filled by myself and by the 1st assistant vaccinator, my writer; I am happy to
state that I have not had to discharge a single vaccinator in 1864.
Although I travelled over nearly three-fourths of Kattywar, and examined most of
the vaccinators' work last year, it gives me pleasure to record that I did not find a single
false return. During the. early part of the year small-pox raged in two large towns—
Verawul and Puttun—belonging to the Nawab of Joonaghur, and later several cases
were reported from Bhownuggur. In the year 1864, during the six months I was travelling
in the districts, I examined the. work of 19 vaccinators; for four months and a few
days I was detained in Rajkote on account of the rains and my civil duties, and for
nearly two months in the hot weather doing Dr. Burrowes' duty, who had gone on leave.
In October, November, and December the Kattywar Field Force was placed under