NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
( xii )
to the influence of Dr. Lord at Poona, and of Dr. Asher at Tanna, vaccinators
have recently been entertained by the municipalities of both these towns.
Municipal vaccination has, therefore, now been introduced into the Sattara
districts, and at Hooblee, Dharwar, Kotree, Poona, and Tanna.
44. Vaccination in Sind, which for many years past has been in a satis-
factory state, has recently been rendered still more effective by the adoption
of a plan, proposed by Dr. Pinkerton, the Superintendent, for appointing local
vaccinators as a supplementary aid to the Government establishment.
Considering the extent and population of the province, and the impossibility
of the existing number of vaccinators going over the whole of it sufficiently
often to keep the infant population protected, Dr. Pinkerton proposed an
addition of 11 vaccinators, to be employed in the same number of different
districts, and to be paid out of the local funds.
45. The proposal was warmly supported by Dr. Ritchie, the Deputy In-
spector General of the Division, as being well adapted for increasing the effici-
ency of the department, and for extending its benefits more thoroughly and
completely over every part of the province. It was ultimately sanctioned by
the Commissioner, who thus unmistakeably proved the deep interest he takes
in the subject.
46. Government are aware that some time ago Dr. Plumptre drew up a
short paper, descriptive of the facts of vaccination, and illustrative of its bene-
fits. It was written in so plain a style as to be readily understood by the
mass of the people. Translations have since been made into Marathi, Guje-
rati, and Canarese, and copies widely circulated. I have reason to believe
that much good has already resulted in those districts in which copies were
early distributed, and I have no doubt will also result in those in which there
was some delay in doing so. The paper not only brings the subject directly
before the people, but being circulated by order of the Civil and Political
authorities, it will no doubt have the desirable effect of impressing upon native
officials the wishes of Government on the subject, and consequently the
importance of their affording every assistance in their power in furthering
the cause.
47. In paragraph 12 of the Resolution of Government on the last report,
His Excellency in Council expressed an opinion that the translation into the
vernaculars, and the publication, of the report and of the Resolution of Go-
vernment thereon, might do much good, and decided that such should be
done, directing me, at the same time, to state whether I thought the plan
should be continued.
48. I am as yet unable to form any decided opinion on the point, inas-
much as I have had no opportunity of ascertaining its effect, the translations
( xiii )
not having yet been printed. On the 13th ultimo the Oriental Translator to
Government, in reply to an inquiry, informed me as follows :—" The Vaccination
Report and the Resolution of Government thereon have been translated into
Marathi, Gujerati, and Canarese, and the translations will, as soon as they
are settled, be forwarded to the General Department of the Secretariat, from
which the necessary instructions for their printing and distribution will be
issued."
49. In paragraph 13 of the same Resolution, His Excellency in Council
expressed an opinion that it might draw the attention of the people generally
to the subject of vaccination, and have a useful effect, were the village officers
throughout all the districts required to submit certain statistical returns, therein
specified, connected with small-pox, with a view to the publication and
distribution of the result.
50. At the end of June, I accordingly requested the Superintendents to
put themselves in communication with the Civil Authorities, for the purpose
of procuring, according to a form which I forwarded, the statistics specified
by Government, and of making them known throughout their districts,
embodying the general results in their annual reports, or as soon afterwards
as possible.
51. The Superintendents have not yet had sufficient time for procuring
the returns, and for embodying the results, but they will be submitted to
Government hereafter, should they be considered trustworthy. I almost fear,
however, that, in the absence of careful registration, it will be impossible to
place much reliance on the accuracy of the returns, and, if so, their publication
might prove disadvantageous rather than beneficial. The Superintendent
in Sind, indeed, reports that he has received a communication, through the
Commissioner, from the Collector of Hydrabad, stating " that even an
approximation to the statistics cannot be obtained on account of there
being no registration."
52. It affords me much pleasure to state that the Superintendents, generally,
express their cordial acknowledgments for the support and assistance they
have received from the Civil, Political, and Police Authorities, and even,
in some cases, from Native Chiefs. Dr. Butler, for instance, markedly alludes
to the great encouragement afforded by the Tarquar of Bhownuggur; and
Dr. Dick mentions that the Mahee Kanta Chiefs generally, but especially the
Maharaja of Edur, take much interest in the subject.
53. I am happy to report that, almost without exception, the Superinten-
dents worked throughout the year with a zeal, a diligence, and an earnestness
deserving of the highest commendation. They left no means untried for pro-
( xiv
)
moting the success of the cause entrusted to their care, and the statements in
paragraphs 6 and 8 prove how great that success has been. I, therefore, beg
to commend to the favourable notice of Government the exertions of Drs.
Butler, Dick, Plumptre, Pinkerton, and Turnbull.
54. Nor must I omit to state that, with a few exceptions, the general
conduct of the vaccinators was very satisfactory. The good effects of the late
decision of Government, to admit these men to the benefit of pensions, is
already becoming apparent in promoting industry and good conduct. The
knowledge that dismissal now involves the loss of prospective, as well as of
present advantages, appears to be exerting a marked influence for good.
55. Before concluding the report I beg to record briefly that, since the
commencement of the present year, the Government of India have been pleased,
on the recommendation of His Excellency in Council, still further to increase
the efficiency of the department by sanctioning several measures which were
submitted for consideration. Among these I may mention the formation of
an additional circle of vaccination, a small increase to the number and pay
of the native vaccinators, and the grant of an additional travelling allowance
for the Superintendents. As these subjects, however, do not strictly come
within the history of the past year, I merely mention the bare facts, leaving
further particulars to be dealt with at the proper time.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
M. STOVELL, M.D.,
Principal Inspector General, Medical Department.
Bombay, 31st March, 1865.
( xv )
INDEX TO THE FOLLOWING REPORTS.
VACCINATION UNDER SUPERINTENDENTS—
Central
Circle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Southern
do. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Northern
do. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Sind
do. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Kattiawar
do. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Rewa Kanta do. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Presidency do. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
VACCINATION UNDER CIVIL SURGEONS—
Tanna .. .. ..
Poona .. .. .. ..
Ahmednuggur .. ..
Sattara .. .. ..
Sholapoor .. ..
Dhoolia .. .. ..
Nassick .. .. ..
Belgaum .. .. ..
Dharwar .. .. .. ..
Kolapoor .. .. ..
Rutnagherry .. ..
Vingorla.. .. ..
PAGE
17
17
18
18
19
20
20
21
21
22
23
23
Honore .. .. .. .. ..
Kaira .. .. .. .. ..
Ahmedabad .. .. .. .. ..
Surat .. .. .. ..
Broach .. .. ..
Rajcote .. .. ..
Kurrachee .. .. ..
Hydrabad .. .. ..
Shikarpoor .. .. .. ..
Kotree
..
..
..
..
..
Kutch
..
..
..
Aden .. .. ..
APPENDIX—
Vaccination under Superintendents in British Territory
..
Vaccination under
ditto
in Native
ditto .. ..
Vaccination under Civil Surgeons .. .. .. ..
General Abstract of Vaccination .. .. .. ..
Table of Ages .. .. .. .. ..
Employment Returns of Superintendents of Vaccination .. ..
PAGE.
1
4
7
9
12
14
15
PAGE
24
24
25
26
26
27
27
28
29
29
30
30
Table No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
VACCINATION UNDER SUPERINTENDENTS.
CENTRAL CIRCLE.
Superintendent—Assistant
Surgeon P. S. TURNBULL, M.D.
Establishment—Thirty-four
Vaccinators (Government).
Two Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government
....
Native Chiefs
..
Years.
1863
1864
1863
1864
Total.
Vaccinated.
47,646
69,299
1,221
2,550
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
21,653
....
1,329
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
Success-
fully
Vaccinated.
44,629
66,141
714
2,334
Percentage
of
Success.
93.6
95.4
58.4
91.5
In commencing the Annual Report on Vaccination, as carried on in the Central Circle
for the year 1864, I may remind the Principal Inspector General, Medical Department,
that I assumed charge of the Circle on the 19th of April last, and that during the preceding
three and half months it was under the superintendency, first, of Dr. Beatty, and afterwards
of Dr. C. J. Sylvester, 3rd Regiment N. I.
The working of the establishment has been successful beyond that of any year since
the Central Circle of Vaccination was formed. The number of children operated upon, as
will be seen above, is 69,299—an increase over the preceding year of 21,653. The number
given in the returns as having been vaccinated in 1863, was 48,562; but as this included
the returns of the vaccinator employed by the Raja of Akulkote, who is not a Government
vaccinator, that number was slightly incorrect. I have, therefore, deducted the returns of this
vaccinator from the above number, and added them to the Native Chiefs' vaccinators'
returns. It was necessary to make these corrections for the purpose of exhibiting a cor-
rect comparison between the returns for 1863 and those of 1864.
This increase in the number of operations is, I think, due to several causes, of which these
are the chief, viz. :—1, each vaccinator having been supplied by Government with a perma-
nent peon; 2, increase of the lymph allowance; 3, increased diligence of the vaccinators
themselves.
v 1
3
I think it right, the preceding year having been my first in the department, to give an
account of the method of inspection which I have adopted and invariably carry out. It is
as follows:—
Before entering a talooka I make out a list of the villages in which work has been done,
and by this I am guided in the route I take through the talooka.
Before visiting a village, certain preparatory work is gone through; the day previous
an order for the collection of all children under 10 years, whether vaccinated or not
protected by small-pox, is sent to the patel and kulkurnee, and the vaccinator's returns are
inspected and a mark put opposite the particular village.
At the appointed hour in the morning I visit the village and first call for the village
register, and, while comparing it with the returns of the vaccinator, the children are collecting,
for the order is scarcely ever attended to, till they see the sahib coming, and sometimes
not even then. This comparison being over, and the children collected, their names are
called over, and as each present answers to the name, the child is brought forward,
inspected, and the result noted.
The children are never all presented, but minute enquiries are always made by me
regarding the whereabouts of the absentees.
This over, the children are then arranged in a row, and the kulkurnee, pen and paper in
hand, goes round with me and writes the name of each unprotected child, in full, as pointed
out by me. This list being completed, is signed by the patel, to be afterwards sent to the
vaccinator for his information and guidance, and the patel is directed to assemble the
children and any others unprotected, when the vaccinator presents the yad. The whole of
the children are then counted, and the number of those protected by small-pox is noted.
The above entails a very great amount of labour, an amount which can only be estimated by a
person who has gone through it, but the information so obtained amply repays it.
During December of the past year I personally visited and inspected in this way 40 villages
and 3,942 children, and made lists of 995 unprotected children. But I had many difficulties
to encounter, among others these, viz:—
1stly.—Want of village registers: this I only ascertained on arrival in the late Sholapoor
Collectorate, but orders have now been given for their being kept in every village, and the
vaccinators are held responsible that they are in the villages in which they may operate.
2ndly.—Want of a knowledge of the Canarese language, which is exclusively spoken on the
south of the Bheema River in what now forms the Collectorate of Kulludghee.
Though I have made numerous enquiries from mamlutdars, jagheerdars, fouzdars, patels,
kulkurnees and others, I have not been able to meet with any striking facts worthy of being
published, proving the benefits of vaccination; but I can say that I have never seen a single
child, on whose arm an undoubted cicatrix was visible, who was also marked with small-pox
cicatrices. I have paid much attention to this subject.
4
SOUTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent—Assistant
Surgeon F. H. PLUMPTRE.
Establishment—Thirty-one
Vaccinators (Government).
Twenty-two Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government
....
Native Chiefs
..
Years.
1863
1864
1863
1864
Total
Vaccinated.
28,680
34,708
15,319
18,816
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
6,028
....
3,497
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
Success-
fully
Vaccinated.
26,992
32,767
14,288
17,345
Percentage
of
Success.
94.1
94.4
93.3
92.3
The above comparative table, satisfactory as it is, as showing an increase over the prece-
ding year of no less than 9,525, and presenting a larger amount of vaccination than has
ever been previously shown in any Annual Report from this Circle, does not embrace the
working of the vaccinators employed under certain of the Municipal Commissioners existing
in the zillahs of my Circle. The operation of this system commenced only in January 1864,
and imperfect, and I must add unsatisfactory, as the results from this branch have been, the
total of the working is as follows:—
Number of operations performed by the vaccinators employed under the Municipal Com-
missioners in the Southern Circle of vaccination 2,834.
This number, therefore, added to the combined result of the Government and Jagheerdar
Establishments, shows that the actual increase in my Circle during 1864, as compared with
1863, is 12,359.
For an increase so large in the Government Establishment, causes which have tended
to promote it must be sought. This is not a difficult task, as during the year under review
more changes have been introduced for the effectual working of the establishment than
have ever been previously made in the same space of time. I propose to enumerate these,
not in the order of their importance, but in the order of their introduction, and will then
consider each separately, and the amount of importance I am disposed to assign to them.
1stly.—Sanction of grain compensation allowance to the members of the Vaccine Establish-
ment.
2ndly.—A more extensive publication of the benefits of vaccination, and its nature, by means
of hand-bills distributed and posted in village chowdies throughout the zillahs of the
Circle.
3rdly.—An increased amount sanctioned for the conveyance of children with vaccine
vesicles for the purpose of carrying on direct vaccination.
4thly.—The establishment of a separate body of peons to assist the vaccinators in their duty,
thus relieving them of the necessity of depending upon the casual aid of peons and police,
previously afforded by the mamlutdars and fouzdars of talookas.
7
NORTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon R. DICK.
Establishment.—Thirty-four
Vaccinators (Government).
Eleven Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government ....
Native Chiefs
..
Years.
1863
1864
1863
1864
Total
Vaccinated.
49,346
67,487
16,317
19,564
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
18,141
....
3,247
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
Success-
fully
Vaccinated.
43,629
61,741
14,156
17,840
Percentage
of
Success.
88.4
91.5
86.7
91.2
The number of operations recorded in 1864 exceeds that of the previous year by 18,141.
This increase is due principally to the establishment of peons who were entertained some
in February and some in March. These peons, as was anticipated, have proved the stimulus
requisite for stirring up the general indifference of the people and securing more active assist-
ance from the village officers. Pains have been taken in selecting, as far as possible, men of
intelligence and conciliating manners,—in short, those best suited for their duty.
Much assistance has also been received from the method of causing the village officers to
prepare lists of unprotected children. Attempts had been made in former years to introduce this
measure but ineffectually, as explained in last annual Report. On receipt of Government
Resolution No. 1100, dated 25th June 1864, paragraph 4th of which authorises superinten-
dents to cause the village officers to prepare these lists, I endeavoured to carry out the measure
in a more systematic manner by sending a letter to the patel and tulatee of each village,
directing them to make out the list in a lithographed form, and give it to the vaccinator on
his coming to commence operations. The measure, thus modified, is of more extensive applica
tion than as described by the Superintendent Central Circle, who seems to have adopted
it only in such villages as he actually visited. The village officers have in most instances made
out the list on receipt of a special letter calling for it, although they had almost entirely dis-
regarded the circular orders to the same effect previously issued. Some, however, still evince
carelessness, either omitting a number of names, or delaying or altogether declining to fill in
the form ; and I am inclined to think that these objections would disappear if the lithographed
letter calling for the lists instead of being signed by me were issued from the mamlutdar's
office, and the village officers directed to send the forms when filled in to the mamlutdar from
whose office the vaccinator would receive them. A part of the increase is also due to two
additional vaccinators who have been at the work since September.
9
SIND DIVISION.
Superintendent—Assistant
Surgeon J. PINKERTON, M.D.
Establishment—Seventeen Vaccinators (Government).
YEARS.
1863
1864
Total
Vaccinated.
39,443
46,440
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
6,997
Decrease.
....
....
Success-
fully
Viccinated.
37,791
43,151
Per-centage
of
Success.
95.6
92.9
The increase in the number of operations this year is due to—first, the vaccinators having
worked steadily and well throughout the year; one only was absent from his district on
account of sickness for a short period; second, two additional vaccinators were appointed on
the establishment in the month of August, the amount which they have contributed to
the increase is 1,113; and, third, the appointment of a peon for each vaccinator since April last,
has no doubt helped to increase the number vaccinated; but I apprehend that the increase on
this account in Sind will not be so great as in other Circles, because generally the Deputy Col-
lectors supplied a peon to each vaccinator, and it was only rarely that they could not give one.
The lymph which is in general use has been unrenewed for I know not how many
years, not certainly in the last decade; it is good, although the vesicles are not so large
as in Europe, but they are perfect as regards shape and progress : they are smallest in the
hot, damp, and largest in the cold months of November, December, and January. During
the year the lymph of only one vaccinator, General No. 185, Damoo Mull, was found so
much deteriorated, that it had to be abandoned. The lymph of two other vaccinators, Gene-
ral No. 197 and General No. 212, in the hot months of April and May, produced very
small vesicles, but under my care and selection in the course of the first week of June it
produced very fair vesicles. In the month of March I received a few hundreds of empty
capillary tubes from England, and commenced a trial of them in the hot months of April, May,
and June, but I did not succeed in carrying lymph in them until towards the end of July.
In August I received a few capillary tubes charged with lymph from England, and on the
15th of that month I vaccinated three children from the English tube-lymph, and also a few
children from Sind tube-lymph. All the latter were successful: of the three vaccinated from
the English tube-lymph, one child had a larger vesicle than I had ever before seen in Sind,
and another smaller vesicle: the other two children were unsuccessful. From the single
larger vesicle I vaccinated a few children and produced splendid vesicles. In September
I charged 50 tubes from this new lymph and distributed them to several vaccinators, but only
two men reported a successful result; this is not to be wondered at, seeing they had never
seen a capillary tube before. I also sent five tubes to Assistant Surgeon Moore, of the Joud-
poor Agency, who reported unfavorably of the result. I have again (November 5th) sent
him more, but do not know what has resulted from their use. Capillary tubes will be of
v2
12
July. I examined the work of General No. 185, Damoo Mull; I found it generally well
done and his records satisfactory, but his lymph had very much deteriorated. I took
him into Kurrachee to get good lymph, which I soon established in this Kardarate.
At this time there were a good many cases of small-pox in the town and neighbour-
hood of Saera. The disease, as I have already said, had been kept up by an
inoculator. As soon as he ceased to inoculate, the disease also ceased. In the
month of September I went into the hills near Kurrachee and examined the work
of General No. 148, Lalloo, and found it satisfactory; here the population is very spare,
and I had to ride long distances to see very few children. Towards the end of October I
commenced my cold season tour, and at the beginning of November I again examined
Damoo Mull's work in the Meerpoor Saera Kardarate, and found him working well; passed
up through Jerruck, there taught the hospital assistant the use of capillary tubes. In Decem-
ber I examined the work of General No. 108, Mehar Chand, in the Sukkrund Kardarate, and
found it satisfactorily done, his records true, except as regards ages: last year I had to
bring this man to notice for falsifying his records. I am happy to say that this year his
register was all correct, with the exception of errors in the columns of ages. Afterwards I
crossed the Indus into the Sehwan District. In the town of Sehwan I saw a few children
who had just been vaccinated by Mr. Apothecary Pollard from glass lymph. The vesicles
were all bad; I vaccinated two children from tubes, and one of them eight days afterwards
had very good vesicles. Leaving Sehwan I passed through Tulti and Cachar Tappidarates,
examining the work of General No. 77, Jettah Mull, en route. I found his records correct,
and the work well done. I could not say so much for him in my former report.
I will conclude this resumè by saying, that I have travelled and examined work in every
district of Sind, with the single exception of the Jacobabad district (in which there is none
to see). I have gone over fourteen vaccinators' and seven medical subordinates' (in medical
charge of dispensaries) work. I travelled 1,528 miles between stations, and I saw 10,297
vaccinated children in 565 villages.
KATTYWAR CIRCLE.
Superintendent—Assistant
Surgeon E.R- BUTLER, M.D.
Establishment—Eight Vaccinators (Government).
Twenty Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government....
Native Chiefs ..
Years.
1863
1864
1863
1864
Total
Vaccinated.
5,415
6,682
15,704
20,007
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
1,267
....
4,303
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
Success-
fully
Vaccinated.
4,951
6,173
14,099
18,365
Per-centage
of
Success.
91.4
92.4
89.7
91.7