NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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To enable me to find out if vaccinators remain too long in one place, and also to
enable me to find them more easily, and so visit them unexpectedly, I have made them
send me fortnightly statements of the name of the place they are at and when they
will go to a new place ; these reports I find of great assistance to me in my tour of
inspection.
I am inclined, speaking generally, to think that there is no very active dislike
to the operation, and in villages and towns where the authorities encourage it
the parents have their children vaccinated readily. I have found the vaccinators
rather fond of making too numerous punctures in the cases they operate on ; this
I believe acts in some measure in preventing people bringing their children to
be vaccinated; certainly to see, as is too often the case, a child's arm almost covered
with sores from the shoulder to the elbow does not tend to make the parents of others
to wish for the same condition to be present in their own children, and the child
being rendered fretful and troublesome by the unnecessary irritative fever present,
the inconvenience to the parents must be very considerable ; this state of the arm is
not brought about by the bad quality of the lymph, but by dirt and neglect on the
part of the parents. I have ordered every vaccinator I have visited only to make
two punctures on each arm.
I was much gratified when visiting the village of Serole, in the Jagheer of Kurun-
war, to find the people have become alive to the benefits of vaccination. One of the
villagers told me that about twenty children had died from small-pox, and that those
who had been vaccinated escaped ; this was the most pleasing visit I have made to
any town or village.
On the whole I think I may say that I have been satisfied with the conduct of
the men under my orders; I have found it necessary to recommend the dismissal of
one. man, a Government vaccinator, and he has been dismissed. I have sent circulars
round to inform the others of this, so that the warning effect of this punishment
should not be lost; if not for this precaution, from their isolated position in different
parts of the country, they would probably have heard nothing about it.
Dr. Plumptre speaks favourably of the introduction of peons to assist the vac-
cinators in obtaining the children, and I am inclined to think they do give great
assistance, but there will be some difficulty in preventing their degenerating into
mere servants of the vaccinators.
Great delay occurs in obtaining the reports of the Jagheerdars' vaccinators, owing
to their being sent first to the Political Agent of the Southern Maratha Country ; if
the Political Agents were stationary the delay would not be so considerable.
If in the high schools the masters were to say a few words to the boys about the
history of vaccination (and such a remarkable discovery might well form part of any
lesson on western civilization), I think it would be very beneficial to the cause.
The Southern Circle, excluding North Canara but including Sawuntwaree and
Rutnagherry, contains an area of 33,825 square miles, and a population of 47,17,513
11
inhabitants. The number of cases vaccinated in these districts during the year was
60,938, consequently 1.2 per cent. have been vaccinated during the year. These
statistics are, I fear, only approximative, as there has not I believe been a trustworthy
census yet obtained. In the Lancet of September 22nd, 1866, 588,361 are the num-
ber of cases reported as vaccinated during the year in England, being an increase of
51,149. I have unfortunately not the means of reference at hand to obtain the number
of inhabitants in England, so I cannot compare the work.
Since joining the appointment in April last I have travelled 1,109 miles, the
rainy season being included in this period.
NORTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent—Surgeon R. DICK, M.D.
Acting Superintendent.—Assistant Surgeon H. COOK, M. D.
Ditto. Assist. Surgeon MUNCHERJEE BYRAMJEE Colah, M.D.
Establishment—Thirty-three Vaccinators (Government).
Eleven Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
One Vaccinator (Municipality).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government....
Native Chiefs ..
Municipality ..
Years.
1865
1866
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
70,212
69,085
20,118
22,043
160
57
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
1,925
....
....
Decrease.
....
1,127
....
....
....
103
Successfully
Vaccinated.
66,166
65,463
18,189
19,986
147
46
Per-centage
of
Success.
94.2
94.8
90.4
90.7
91.8
80.7
The above table exhibits a decrease of 1,127 in the number of children vaccinat-
ed by the Government vaccinators during the year, as compared with the preceding
one, and an increase of 1,925 in the number operated on by the vaccinators of Native
Chiefs.
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249, was discharged the service on account of bad conduct. The vacancies thus
produced have been duly filled up. From sickness and other causes about eight
vaccinators were incapacitated for more or less lengthened periods from performing
their work efficiently. To this, perhaps, and to the loss of lymph during the monsoon,
mentioned in paragraph 12 of this Report, may be attributed the slight decrease in
the number of children vaccinated.
5. Demands for lymph from various medical men in this Circle have been met
with by the supply of capillary tubes charged with fresh lymph, and in conformity
with Principal Inspector General's Order, No. 334, this department has regularly
forwarded every fortnight two lymph tubes to the Local Superintendent of Vaccina-
tion at Bombay.
6. Next to seeing good normal vesicles containing clear lymph, the best proof
of the good quality of such lymph would be its effect upon an unprotected constitu-
tion. Hence it would be valuable information to this department to know that the
vaccine lymph of different localities supplied to others is efficacious or otherwise, for
this reason, whenever lymph is forwarded to any Officer, it is invariably requested of
him to report the result of vaccination from such source.
7. During the year two supplies of lymph from England were received for trial;
one at the commencement and one towards its close ; the lymph in both instances
produced no good results.
8. In paragraph 4 of last year's Report mention was made of the existence of
the practice of inoculation in the district of Bugwara. In the districts travelled
through in the year under report, Dr. Cook states : "I could find no single case of
inoculation in any of the villages examined, nor did I hear of it in any talooka
visited though I made special enquiry concerning it."
9. Municipal vaccination has not much progressed. In paragraph 13 of last
Report, it was mentioned that the Municipality of Dakore in the Kaira Zilla was the
only one in this Circle that supported a separate vaccinator. But in consequence of
smallness of population, that Municipality has given up entertaining a separate
vaccinator. In the whole of this Circle there are at present only two vaccinators
employed by the Municipalities of Veerungaum and Dholka. Municipal vaccinators
are not under the control of this department, and do not report their work ; the
Superintendent of Vaccination, when he happens to be in a place where a Municipal
Vaccinator may be working, examines his work only.
10. In the month of July, small-pox prevailed in Sagbara, a village 45 miles
from Mandvee. The Thakore of the village, through the Mamlutdar of Mandvee,
asked the assistance of a vaccinator, whereupon the Mandvee vaccinator, General
No. 248, was directed to proceed to Sagbara and carry on vaccination there. It was
not till the 6th September that actual operations were commenced; in one month
106 children were vaccinated and the result was so satisfactory that the epidemic
soon ceased, and the services of the vaccinator and the peon accompanying him were
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so highly appreciated that they were handsomely rewarded by the Thakore of the
village.
11. In the month of November, Dr. Cook addressed a circular letter to all the
vaccinators in this Division, desiring them to report on the different castes of people
in their districts who object to vaccination. From the replies to this circular it
appears that some of the Kusbatee Mahomedans, the Parsees of the seashore villages
of Surat Zilla, a few castes of Hindoos, and fisherman generally still entertain some
prejudices regarding this beneficent operation. Dr. Cook states that "with a few
exceptions the inhabitants of this Circle generally seem year by year to become more
convinced of the benefits of vaccination, and as a rule they are anxious to have their
children vaccinated." In many cases also I have known adults voluntarily submit
themselves to the operation, though the cases amongst adults in which vaccination
would be available or requisite are comparatively rare, for most of them have either
been vaccinated when young or suffered from small-pox. There can be no more
striking proof of the benefits conferred on the people by this beneficent operation than
is displayed by a visit to any of the villages in this district. One is struck at once
with the general freedom from the marks of small-pox and other deformities produced
by this disease among the young population, while the old inhabitants are scarred,
blind, and otherwise horribly deformed by this horrible and loathsome scourge.
12. As regards the quality of the lymph of this circle, the late Superintendent,
whose observations extended over 11 months, states that " the lymph has been good
throughout the year with one or two exceptions, in those cases in which the vesicles
did not seem so good as they should have been, its use was immediately stopped and a
fresh supply obtained from those vaccinators who possessed the best lymph." Dur-
ing the monsoon several vaccinators lost their lymph, but a fresh supply was im-
mediately obtained from their nearest neighbours. Owing to the heavy rains and
floods I think the loss was to be anticipated, and was not to be attributed to laziness
or want of zeal on their part.
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SIND DIVISION.
Superintendent—Assistant
Surgeon J. PINKERTON, M.D.
Establishment.—Seventeen
Vaccinators (Government).
Thirteen Vaccinators (Local).
One Vaccinator (Native Chief).
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government..
Local .......
Native Chiefs.
YEARS.
1865
1866
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
50,524
44,126
11,891
23,594
816
975
Compared with the pre-
ceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
11,703
....
159
Decrease.
....
6,398
....
....
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
47,618
40,970
11,176
21,300
681
820
Per-centage
of Success.
94.2
92.8
93.9
90.3
83.4
84.1
Vaccination progresses in this province in the satisfactory way that it was
anticipated it should from the creation of a local vaccination establishment, to supple-
ment the numerical inadequacy of the Government establishment. For the past two
years vaccine operations have been carried on in every part, even to the very remotest
in the province, from the confines of Cutch, Serohi, and Jeysulmeer to Bhawulpoor
on the left bank of the Indus, and from the Murree Hills to the Hubb river on the
right bank. I only know of one small tappidarate within the compass of my Circle
that remains a virgin field to the vaccinator, and that tappidarate is Veerawah in the
Kotree Talooka. It is a small place situated in the hills, distant from Kotree about
thirty-six miles in a north-westerly direction, inhabited by Koso Belooches of an
independent, and not many years ago, very unruly disposition, who have as yet
resisted all overtures most decidedly, and I believe on one occasion threateningly, so
that the vaccinator had to abandon the place. I intend to send a vaccinator there
shortly, and hope that they will be more reasonable now, as they must have seen the
advantages arising from vaccination in their close neighbourhood. I have instructed
Jettah Mull to work his way there from the Bheran tappidarate, and to endeavour to
induce the Koso Belooches there to accept of his services.
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vaccinator vaccinated 541 males and 431 females, being 55.48 and 44.51 respectively
in every 100. These three establishments differ so very slightly in regard to the
relative proportion of the sexes that one would be inclined on that evidence, to believe
that the vaccinators have given the correct relative numbers of the male and female
children vaccinated by them, but the fact is that the relative proportion is not correct,
for I have during my inspections repeatedly found female children entered in the
male column, but I have never found a male child entered in the female column.- On
this account I believe these figures are not entirely correct, not with standing the strong
evidence of their correctness. I think that the chief reason why there are always so
many more males than females is that there are very few of the latter vaccinated
after the age of six years, because many females of that age are not allowed to go out
in public, especially among Hindoos, whereas there is no such hindrance to males¬-
The late Dr. Ritchie drew my attention to this circumstance as the likeliest reason for
the disparity, and I think now that he was correct, still the fact is known to me that
female children are entered occasionally in the male column, and there are certainly
no objections to vaccinate young female children, and I often see adult Hindoo as
well as Mussulman women who have submitted themselves to be vaccinated.
9. There were six Christians (in Kotree), 7,251 Hindoos, 56,620 Mussulmans,
and 4,818 other castes (all Shikaris) vaccinated. The relative number of Hindoos to
Mussulmans I think is very slightly below what the relative number of Hindoos to
Mussulmans is in the general population of the province. No less than 2,584 of the
4,818 Shikaris were vaccinated in the Thur and Parkur Political Superintendency.
The vaccinators seldom do any work in the European stations, hence there are so
few Christians.
10. There were vaccinated 15,601 under one year old and 53,094 above that
age, being 22.71 under and 77.28 above one year old in every 100. I am sorry to
say that I consider the columns of ages untrustworthy, and the impression left on my
mind after inspecting nearly 8,000 vaccinated children last year is that the number
vaccinated under one year old ought to have been very much larger in the vaccinators'
returns, probably nearly double what has been reported. In several registers the
number of mistakes clearly show that the vaccinators do not give proper attention to
the subject of ages. I hope they will be more careful during 1867. I will again
issue a circular letter on this subject to all the vaccinators.
11. The result of the operations is here shewn :—
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government....
Local .......
Native Chiefs ..
Average ......
Per-centage of
Successful.
92.8
90.27
84.1
89.05
Per-centage of
Unsuccessful.
1.1
2.7
11.17
4.99
Per-centage of
Doubtful.
6.0
7.0
4.7
5.9
REMARKS.
1.4 Less successful than
in 1865.
2.6
Do.
do.
0.7 More
do.
3.3 Less successful than
in 1865.
27
state in its 11th paragraph, with reference to this habit of begging " Murad" from
the parents of vaccinated children that " the most effectual method of preventing it
would appear to be increased supervision. He has one Assistant Superintendent, if
three or four more were appointed the proceedings of vaccinators would be
thoroughly supervised." Beyond a doubt the want of Native Assistant Superin-
tendents is the one defect in the now famous Bombay system of vaccination, for it
stands an evident impossibility that either I or any other Superintendent can so closely
supervise vaccinators spread over fifty or sixty thousand square miles, as to prevent
occasional misconduct; systematic falsification of returns can be prevented by calling
over a few thousand names in the course of the year, but there are many things which
should be attended to more closely than they have ever yet been. I have now.
through the liberality of the Commissioner in Sind, two Assistants, but it would pro-
bably be better if I had one for each collectorate, or rather one for Kurrachee collec¬
torate including Kohistan, one for Hydrabad collectorate and Thur and Parkur Poli-
tical Superintendency, and one for Shikarpoor collectorate and Upper Sind Frontier
Political Superintendency, that is to say, one more than I have at present; such an
addition to my establishment would involve an additional expenditure of Rupees
two hundred and forty per annum, and I believe it would be money very well spent,
because the quality of the vaccinations is of infinitely more importance than the
number of them. If this suggestion of Mr. Mansfield be adopted, it would leave
hardly a thing to wish for as far as supervising the work of the vaccinators and con-
trolling their conduct is concerned.
KATTYWAR CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Surgeon
E. R. BUTLER, M. D.
Acting Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon C. JOYNT, M.D.
Establishment.—Eight
Vaccinators (Government).
Thirty Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).
ESTABLISHMENTS.
Government..
Native Chiefs.
YEARS.
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
6,940
6,563
20,079
26,759
Compared with the pre¬
ceding year.
Increase.
..
..
..
6,680
Decrease.
..
377
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
6,654
6,417
18,469
24,878
Per-centage
of Success.
95.8
97.8
91.2
93.0
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The returns which accompany this report exhibit a total number of vaccinations
in the Kattywar Circle during the past year of 33,322, an increase of 6,303 on the
number vaccinated in the preceding year. Of the total number vaccinated, 6,563 (a
decrease of 377) were vaccinated by the Government establishment, and 26,759 (an
increase of 6,680) by the Native Chiefs' establishment.
The per-centage of success reported by the Government vaccinators is 97.77
(an increase of 1.9 on preceding year) ; and by Native Chiefs' vaccinators 92.97 (an
increase of about 1.)
I am unable to explain why the Government vaccinators have been less success-
ful in 1866 than in 1865.
The increase observable in the returns furnished by the Native Chiefs' establish-
ment is to be explained in the following manner:—
Two vaccinators had failed to send in their returns for November and 18 for
December 1865, when Dr. Butler compiled his report for that year. Having been
afterwards sent in they were incorporated in the returns for 1866. The number thus
accounted for is 1,831.
Six additonal vaccinators have been employed by the Native Chiefs, 3 having been
engaged in July, two in September, and one in October 1866. These recently enter-
tained men report having vaccinated 1,989 children. The bonâ fide increase on the
preceding year is to be attributed, and (from the inquiries I have made) appears to be
fairly so to a greater willingness on the part of the people to have their children vacci-
nated, as well as to increased exertion on the part of the vaccinators.
The quality of the lymph is reported to have been good, and the vesicles well
formed. I have myself inspected the children vaccinated in the town of Rajcote
and in some of the adjoining villages, and have nowhere else seen better developed
vesicles or purer lymph. The vaccinators have kept up a good supply of lymph during
the year.
As in former years, the Political Agent and his Assistants have effectively and
promptly aided the exertions of the Superintendent in promoting vaccination in the
Circle. Apparently their example has not been lost upon the Native Chiefs, who have
evinced a greater interest in its success, and rendered more efficient aid than in former
years. In the districts of the Chief of Nowanuggur alone have the vaccinators com-
plained of the insufficient aid afforded them. The fact that three additional vaccina-
tors were employed in 1865, and six in 1866, is a proof that the blessings conferred
by vaccination are beginning to be appreciated by the Chiefs.
I have no reason to believe that any false returns have been sent in
Small-pox was reported as existing in Wankaneer and in Morebee in February,
as very prevalent in March, as existing in the Goondul, Nowanuggur, Wankaneer, and
Dhurole districts in May, and in the Jaitpoor and Goondul districts in December.
I am ignorant of the circumstances under which this disease occurred, and of the ex-
tent to which it prevailed.
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Having only assumed charge of the duties of Superintendent on the 20th De-
cember, I am not in a position to report with any approach to accuracy on the con-
duct of the vaccinators in the Circle. Some of them have been negligent in sending
in their monthly returns. The impossibility of inspecting the work of the vaccinators
in their districts (since the departure of Dr. Butler in July) by the gentlemen who
have successively had charge of the office, viz., Mr. Burrows, Mr. Dann, Dr. Williams,
and myself, has doubtless operated prejudicially on the vaccinators, who appear to
need a continuous surveillance to keep them to their work. This may account for the
decrease in vaccinations performed by the Government vaccinators-
REWA KANTA CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon W. FLEMING.
Acting Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon J. T. WELSH, M. D.
Establishment.—Five Vaccinators (Government)
Five Vaccinators (Native Chiefs) .
ESTABLISHMENT.
Government
(Punch
Mahals) ..
Native Chiefs.
YEARS.
1865
1866
1865
1866
Total
Vaccinated.
3,337
5,833
3,994
4,855
Compared with the pre¬
ceding year.
Increase.
..
2,496
..
861
Decrease.
..
..
..
..
Successfully
Vaccinated.
3,015
5,296
3,988
4,741
Per-centage
of Success.
90.3
90.8
99.8
97.6
From the above statement it will be seen that in the Punch Mahals, during the
past year, a much greater increase has taken place in the amount of work performed
than during any previous year. This satisfactory result is almost entirely owing to
the diligence of the assistant vaccinators themselves, and is only to a very slight extent
due to greater facilities afforded by the people. Indeed in many parts of the districts
opposition to the operation continues very strong, and even in the large towns, the
inhibitants although generally speaking not opposing, remain as apathetic as ever.
The increase did not occur in any particular district, but was common to them all,
and throughout the year the conduct of the vaccinators with the exception of Gene-
ral No. 279 at Jabalode, was all that could be desired. General No. 253, at Dohud,
vaccinated the greatest number of children, and is intelligent, energetie, and truthful.