9
It is satisfactory in this my first annual return to be able to report an increase in
the number of cases of 2,019, and also to show that the proportion of successful cases
is greater than in the preceding year. This year two extra permanent vaccinators
have been appointed, viz. in the Jagheers of Serole and Kurrunwar, and a third tem-
porary one who did duty at Seeren for two months and who was paid out of the fine
fund. Of these the Serole man returns 149 cases, the other man of Kurrunwar has
not yet sent any returns; and the temporary vaccinator operated on 467 cases, so that
to view matters in the same light as in 1865 it is necessary in considering the increase
of vaccination in the Southern Circle to deduct 616 cases from the total increase of
2,019, leaving 1,403 to represent the increased work of the establisment as it existed
prior to this year. It will be seen that the number of cases returned by the Govern-
ment vaccinators shows a decrease of 1,038 ; this is unsatisfactory. The decrease has
occurred chiefly in the Rutnagherry Zilla, where I found two men working with very
indifferent lymph, and to whom I supplied fresh. I think that this decrease may be
accounted for by the increased vigilance of the Civil authorities in our territories in
taking care that returns shall be genuine.
With reference to the quality of lymph employed, I think I may, on the whole,
speak favourably of it, I have however in the course of my tour found six vaccinators
working with lymph of a very doubtful quality. I think it must be considered an
interesting question how this degenerated lymph acts. I believe however there is
little doubt that the protective influence of it must be very small, as the perfect
vaccine vesicles must be considered only as an index of a disease which has passed
through the system of the patient; it would have seemed more probable to expect no
effect from bad or indifferent lymph at all at the site of the puncture, so that some
sort of constitutional effect evidently takes place although not a completely protecting
one. During the year new lymph from England of excellent quality has been intro-
duced, and I shall multiply it and spread it as much as possible. I particulary enjoin
all vaccinators I visit to be very careful about the quality of the lymph they use.
Having found six men in the course of my tour working with doubtful lymph,
I fear that all the cases reported as successful, cannot be accepted as such without
considerable qualification. This shows the necessity of frequent inspection to be
very great, I fear that in such an immense area as the Southern Circle the attempts on
the part of the Superintendent to check fraud must at the best only be imperfect, but
I look upon the duty of inspecting the quality of the lymph used as being of the
greatest importance.
In the Rutnagherry Zilla and the Sawuntwaree State I found three men work-
ing with very doubtful lymph. This part of the country forms part of the Western
Circle, the Superintendent of which has not been able to take up his appointment,
consequently it has been but little inspected of late years, it is particularly difficult
of access, there being no roads, travelling can only be carried on at great incon-
venience to the inhabitants, by means of bigarries, who do not willingly come for-
ward to act as coolies.
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