NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
( xxiii )
laid down for the medical charge of Native Regiments; and I feel sure that,
if the appointments in the Department meet with this consideration, it will
prove of infinite advantage, by keeping in it Officers who are interested in
the success of the work,—a point which the past history of vaccination and its
superintendence shows to be one of vital importance to its interests.
Certificates.
59. Superintendents of Vaccination have not been backward in bringing
to notice the good that would be effected by certifi-
cates of successful vaccination being exacted from
all candidates for Government employment, in the absence of evidence of
protection by small-pox. So far back as 1852 or 1853, and in the present year
by Mr. Reid, Collector of Dharwar, it was recommended. This arrangement
has been for some time carried out in Madras. The Government of the North-
Western Provinces has now issued orders to this effect, as pointed out in letter
from the Secretary to Government, North-Western Provinces, to the Superin-
tendent General of Vaccination, North-Western Provinces; and in the absence
of a system of compulsory vaccination throughout the country, I consider the
accomplishment of such a recommendation would be of great use, and in no
way whatever objectionable to religious or caste prejudices.
Establishment.
60. Certain other points, with reference to the still better working of
the establishments, have been brought forward by
Superintendents; and as it appears to me they would
be of considerable moment in adding to the facilities for vaccination and to the
improved position of the Vaccinators, I beg to bring them forward here,
and to state that, in my opinion, they merit the early and favourable consi-
deration of Government.
61. The first is the grant of travelling batta to the Vaccinators. These
men do not receive a high rate of pay ; they are obliged to be constantly
on the move; and, as the distances they have to cover are very considerable,
they are necessitated to keep up two establishments; that is, they are obliged
to leave behind, and provide for, their families. All this entails expense ; and it
is perhaps not to be wondered at that instances have occurred of men divert-
ing to their own uses the little allowance which should be given to the
mothers or fathers of children who are taken to villages for lymph purposes.
62. The whole of the members of every other Government moving
establishment (including even the Vaccination Establishment in Sind) receive
travelling batta when absent on duty, and it would, I think, be only a just boon
to these men that they should be dealt with in a similar manner.
( xxiv )
63. The Vaccinators might either draw a fixed monthly allowance
according to the rates laid down for persons in the Revenue and other Depart-
ments, of like pay and standing with Vaccinators, or draw the amount
expended monthly in contingent bills. The former appears to me most
suited to the class of persons.
64. The second point is the establishment of Native Assistant Superin-
tendents in each Circle. This has been a subject of much consideration
with me ; and I have come to the conclusion that they would be most useful
aids to the Superintendents, and be of immense service to the truthfulness of
the work.
65. I will on this subject quote from the annual Report of Dr. Pinkerton,
the Superintendent of longest experience in this Presidency, and who speaks
from experience :—
" The more I see of our system of. vaccination the more am I convinced
that Sir George Clerk's idea of employing Native Deputy Superintendents
to assist the European Superintendents was wise and correct, and the carry-
ing of it into practice would, I believe, bring the several vaccination estab-
lishments to a degree of efficiency never yet reached even in the Bombay
Presidency, where so much has been effected without their assistance. It
seems a waste of time to argue in favour of Native Assistant Superintendents,
for the thing stands self-evident, that no single unaided European Officer
can exercise a continuous watch over men scattered over 50,000 or 60,000
square miles. And here I may be permitted to say, in advocating the em-
ployment of Native Assistant Superintendents, that Sir George Clerk's
idea, although a wise one, was marred, and ultimately rendered futile by em-
ploying only Sub-Assistant Surgeons as Deputy Superintendents. Native
medical gentlemen are the last men whom I should choose for Assistant
Superintendents of Vaccination; and Sir George Clerk's plan of solely employ-
ing Sub-Assistant Surgeons signally and completely failed. Still this failure
by no means implies that a plan for employing other natives would also fail.
I have found the two Assistants under me useful to a degree I had not even
anticipated. I. may be permitted then to say, that I think Native Assistant
Superintendents should be employed in all Circles of Vaccination, and that good
men, chosen from among the Vaccinators themselves, should be promoted to
Assistant Superintendentships. This would open up careers for young men
entering the Vaccination Department, and would do more than anything else
I know of to stimulate Vaccinators to work well, to render honest returns,
and to maintain their integrity in all relations with the people among
(
xxv
)
whom they work. In concluding this subject, I would beg to recommend
that a grade of Native Superintendents to assist the European Officers be
made in all establishments. It is worthy of note that when Surgeon Pearson,
some years ago, adopted the Bombay system of Vaccination in the North-
Western Provinces, he did not fail to strike the one blot in our system, and
he included in his establishments a grade of Native Assistant Superinten-
dents."
66. I agree with all that Dr. Pinkerton has written on this matter,
and think that it is one which claims, together with that of batta to the
Vaccinators, the earnest attention of Government.
67. The appointments of Assistant Superintendents would not have any
effect on the active movements of the Superintendents through their Districts;
but as such appointments would decrease the operative power of the estab-
lishments, it would involve an increase to each of two Apprentice Vaccinators.
Both the above arrangements have been carried out for some time in Sind,
and have worked well.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. S. ARNOTT, M.D., C.B.,
Inspector General, Indian Medical Department.
4 vac
VACCINATION UNDER SUPERINTENDENTS.
CENTRAL CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon P. S. TURNBULL, M.D.
Acting Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon E. H. R. LANGLEY, A.B.
Establishment.—Thirty-six
Vaccinators under Government, two under Native
Chiefs, and nine under Municipalities.
Establishment.
Government.. ..
Native Chiefs ..
Municipalities ..
Years.
1866
1867
1866
1867
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
61,543
71,037
953
1,668
213
4,120
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
9,494
....
715
....
3,907
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
57,847
68,130
786
1,417
190
3,508
Percentage
of Success.
94
95.9
82.5
84.9
89.2
85.1
I assumed charge of the Office of Superintendent of Vaccination, Central Circle,
from Dr. Dann, Civil Surgeon of Ahmednuggur, in the beginning of November 1867,
Dr. Dann himself having but a short time previously received charge from Dr.
Turnbull, Superintendent of Vaccination, Central Circle. As no Report for the ten
months in which Dr. Turnbull held the charge has been furnished to me, these
remarks must necessarily be meagre in detail, and altogether not as full and complete
as I feel they ought to be.
"1. The returns of the year (1867) under report show a considerable increase in
the number of operations performed in the Central Circle when compared with the
former year.
" 2. This great increase is due, I think, first of all, to the members of the
establishment who have performed their work with great zeal and energy ; secondly,
to the very numerous visits which my predecessor, Dr. Turnbull, in person made to
the villages, and the number of operations he himself performed (for nearly two-thirds
of the children were operated on by Dr. Turnbull himself); thirdly, that in almost
every village the inhabitants have shown themselves more anxious to avail themselves
of the benefits of vaccination.
1 v
2
" 3. I am unable to state whether there has been a decrease in the number of
cases of small-pox over that of the year previous, as the returns enabling me to effect
this have as yet not reached my Office.
" 4. Not one case of inoculation has been reported during the past year.
" 5. Vaccination in Collectorates.
Collectorate.
Poona .......................
Ahmednuggur ..........
Khandesh .................
Kulladghee ..............
Tanna .......................
1866.
15,195
10,684
13,524
5,535
16,605
1867.
12,358
18,748
15,056
6,300
18,575
Compared with 1866.
Increase.
....
8,064
1,532
765
1,970
Decrease.
2,837
....
....
....
....
The above table shows an increase in Ahmednuggur, Khandesh, Kulladghee, and
Tanna, and a decrease in Poona. In the collectorate of Poona during the past year,
the Municipal Commissioners of Sholapoor, Pundhurpoor, Barsee, Burumuttee, Sun-
jorla, and in Poona itself, have entertained Vaccinators. Last year (1866) Beejapoor
was the only town which entertained a Vaccinator.
"6. The Vaccinators have conducted their duties most satisfactorily. One Vac-
cinator was dismissed the Service for bad conduct. The largest number of vaccinations
in the Tanna Zilla was performed by General No. 157 (Ballajee Chalka), and in the
Central Circle by General No. 237 (Dhoondoo Chintaman). Dr. Turnbull was much
pleased with the work which these men performed.
" 7. Husband's capillary tubes have been generally employed for conveying lymph
from place to place ; the quality of the lymph thus transported has generally on trial
proved good.
" 8. Of the total number, 36,366 or 51.1 were males, and 34,671 or 48.8 were
females : this shows that the males still preponderate.
"9. The following table will show the proportions percent. of each caste vac-
cinated during the past year as compared with the preceding year; it shows very
little change, except as regards Hindoos :—
Year.
1866 ..............
1867 ..............
Christian.
1.7
0.2
Hindoo.
87.9
90.1
Mussulman.
4.5
4.1
Parsee.
....
01
Other Castes.
5.9
5.6
3
" 10.The number of infants operated on is much greater this year than it has
been for any previous period; 28.8 or 20,496 of the operations were on children
under one year of age.
"11. The percentage of success has been much greater. In 1866 it was 93.9, in
the present year (1867) 95.9. Not a single false name, I am informed, was discovered
during the year. The lymph has generally been active, producing vesicles well
developed.
" 12. Before concluding my Report, I beg most respectfully to call to notice the
23rd paragraph of Dr. Turnbull's Report for 1866, in which he points out the almost
absolute necessity of granting travelling batta to Vaccinators."
Native States.
A great increase in the operations, as shown' by the table at the heading of this
Report, as compared with former years has taken place during the past year. In 1866
953 or 82.4, in 1867 1,668 or 84.9. The Chief of Jowar has expressed a wish to
the Collector of Tanna for a Vaccinator to be sent to carry out vaccination in his
territory, all expenses incurred by this laudable undertaking to be defrayed by the
Native Chief. A Vaccinator, a man upon whose experience and judgment I can place
full reliance, shall be deputed to carry out this work as soon as possible.
SOUTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Surgeon H. DAY, M.D.
Establishment.—Twenty-nine Vaccinators under Government, twenty-five under
Native Chiefs, and nine under Municipalities.
Establishment.
Government....
Native Chiefs ..
Municipalities ..
Years.
1866
1867
1866
1867
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
40,948
39,525
18,019
19,972
7,229
6,941
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
1,953
....
....
Decrease.
....
1,423
....
....
....
288
Successfully
Vaccinated.
38,961
37,754
17,066
19,033
6,655
6,477
Percentage
of Success.
95.1
95.5
94.7
95.3
92.1
93.3
4
The above Report shows that vaccination has been slightly progressive in the
Southern and Western Circles during the year, and the increase is most marked in the
number of cases reported as successfully vaccinated.
2. There has been no change in the number of Vaccinators employed. It will
be seen that there is a large increase in the number of cases reported by the
Vaccinators of the Native States, and this is the more satisfactory as it shows that the
benefits of the operation are being more fully believed in by persons least under the
influence of Government.
3. I think that the increase of successfully vaccinated cases is to be attributed
to the new lymph introduced last year and spread about the country as much as
possible.
4. The decrease of vaccination is rather large in the Rutnagherry Zilla ; it
appears that there has been some difficulty in getting children in that zilla, small-pox
not having been so prevalent as in the year 1866.
5. The decrease in Dharwar has also been large : fever has prevailed to a large
extent in that zilla.
6. In Sattara there is only a difference of 235, but it is on the wrong side.
7. Belgaum shows a very satisfactory increase of 1,238 cases.
8. During the year, I have visited the Sattara Districts, the Kolapoor State, and
some of the jagheers of the Southern Maratha Country, also the zillas of North
Canara and Dharwar.
9. I found the people of North Canara to be a fever-stricken population,
scattered about in junglee villages very difficult to get at, and but little alive to the
dangers of small-pox, which will account for the falling off of 208 cases.
10. At the village of Kulghutgee, zilla of Dharwar, I found the people fully alive
to the benefits of vaccination : for small-pox having visited the village, only one case
among 18 vaccinated children occurred.
11. I have been satisfied on the whole with the conduct of the Vaccinators, and
I have only had to recommend the dismissal of one man, viz., the Vaccinator of the
Jagheerdar of Jhutt. I found it necessary to fine the Vaccinator of Sircy for having
lost his lymph, since which time he has been doing better.
12. All demands for lymph made upon me I have satisfied as speedily as
possible, and in my travels always carried about a few tubes to supply Vaccinators
with, when I thought a renewal of their lymph advisable.
13. I am still of opinion, as stated in my letters No. 56 and 62 of 1867, that it
would be a highly desirable measure to employ men educated in the vernacular class of
the Grant College in this department, but I fear that the expenses of the department
would be largely increased thereby: but vaccination, of all things, to be beneficial,
should be " thorough."
5
Comparative Table of Work performed in each Zilla of the Southern Circle of Vac-
cination by the Government Establishment for the year 1867, contrasted with
1866.
Belgaum, 11th February 1868.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
Names of
Zillas.
Belgaum ....
Rutnagherry.
Sattara......
Dharwar....
North Canara.
Total ....
Number of
Vaccina-
tors em-
ployed.
6
7
6
3
5
27
Total Vac-
cinated in
1867.
7,479
18,546
5,931
2,519
5,050
39,525
Average of
Operations
to each.
1246.1
2649.3
988.1
839.2
1010.0
..
Success-
fully Vac-
cinated.
7,160
17,886
5,521
2,361
4,817
37,754
Per-
centage
of Suc-
cess.
95.1
96.2
93.9
93.1
95.2
..
Total in
1866.
6,241
19,611
6,166
3,672
5,258
40,948
In-
crease.
1,238
..
..
..
..
1,238
De-
crease.
..
1,065
235
1,153
208
2,661
REMARKS.
Return of the Vaccinators employed by the Municipalities of the Southern
Circle for the year 1867.
Belgaum, 11th February 1868.
Number.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Month of year.
January
1867
February
„
March .. „
April .. „
May.... „
June....
„
July.. .. „
August..
„
September „
October.. „
November „
December „
Total....
Average Monthly
Number
Sattara Zilla.
Khanapoor.
80
75
77
43
28
28
66
91
18
36
81
93
716
59.2
Moan.
125
105
101
62
63
56
64
61
72
55
66
107
937
78.1
Walwa.
51
45
51
50
46
51
42
46
41
55
40
46
564
47.0
Waee and Ko-
ragaum.
83
81
81
84
82
83
82
80
82
81
82
84
985
82.1
Kurrar.
42
49
41
44
50
41
57
41
57
52
55
60
589
49.1
Poona Zilla.
Punderpoor.
42
50
55
42
41
43
43
..
..
..
..
..
316
45.1
Dharwar
Zilla.
Gud-
duck
and
Betti-
gerry.
54
55
55
56
55
55
55
55
54
48
65
50
657
54.3
Hooblee.
171
107
156
120
101
81
50
113
110
114
151
101
1,375
114.7
Belgaum
Zilla.
Belgaum.
74
129
94
54
74
49
35
45
53
32
51
56
746
62.1
Gokak.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
31
25
56
28.0
REMARKS.
6
NORTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—MUNCHERJEE BYRAMJEE COLAH , M.D. (Acting).
Establishment.—Thirty-three Vaccinators under Government, twelve under Native
Chiefs, and two under Municipalities.
Establishment.
Government ....
Native Chiefs
..
Municipalities ..
Year.
1866
1867
1866
1867
1866
1867
Total
Vaccinated.
69,085
68,282
22,043
20,553
57
1,253
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
....
....
....
....
....
1,196
Decrease.
....
803
....
1,490
....
....
Successfully
Vaccinated.
65,463
63,293
19,986
18,376
46
1,176
Percentage
of Success.
94.8
92.7
90.7
89.4
80.7
93.9
1. In fixing the course of my travels during the year, I kept in view the in-
spection of those portions of this Circle that were not visited by former Superintendents
for some time back. Since the year 1863 the Native States of Pahlunpoor and
Mahee Kanta had not been inspected, so the first four months of the year were spent
in travelling through and examining the work of the Vaccinators of these districts. In
the beginning of May I arrived at Ahmedabad, after finishing the inspection of the
Native States and of such other Government Vacccinators whose stations lay in my course
next to the Native States. The Surat Districts were left unexamined; so from Ahmedabad
I travelled southwards to Bulsar, and before the setting in of the monsoon had time to
inspect the work of four Vaccinators ; viz., of Bulsar, Pardee, Bugwara, and Chicklee.
During the rains I was stationed at Surat, and on fair-weather days inspected the work
of the Vaccinators of Chowrasee and Oolpar, and left Surat for the districts again on
the 5th of November, from which date up to the end of the year I travelled through
the Broach Zilla and inspected the work of three Vaccinators.
2. The work of 24 Vaccinators has been examined during the year; of these, 10
belonged to the Native States, and 14 were Government Vaccinators. They were
found to be working with a fair amount of zeal and industry, and, with one solitary
exception, their returns were in the main reliable. Their old work was of a middling
character, and, with the exception of that of three Vaccinators, their lymph was to all
appearance good. The three Vaccinators whose lymph was bad were ordered to
discontinue its use, and were provided with good lymph from their neighbours.
3. The table placed at the head of this Return shows a decrease in the number
of operations performed during the year both in the British as well as in the Native
States. Of the British States the decrease is slight, viz., 803 only, and is chiefly owing
7
to unavoidable breaks in vaccination which occurred in purgunna Dhundooka
(Ahmedabad Districts) in March and April, and again in October and November, in
consequence of the illness of the Vaccinators employed there (General Nos. 91 and 170),
and to partial suspension of vaccination in purgunna Bardolee (Surat Districts) during
July, August, and September, in consequence of the Vaccinator losing lymph and not
promptly replacing it. The decrease in the Native States of Pahlunpoor and Mahee
Kanta is also attributable to similar causes. Vaccination was not carried on at
Rhadunpoor for five months (from April to August inclusive). In Deodur Talooka
no work was done in November, as the Vaccinator was on leave. One Vaccinator of
Mahee Kanta lost his lymph during the rains ; a fresh supply was sent from Surat,
but nearly one month was lost before he could commence work again.
4. Notwithstanding this decrease, it appears that vaccination is progressing satis-
factorily in this Circle, for there is a steady increase each year in the number of
children vaccinated under one year of age, as is seen from the following table :—
British States......................
Native „ ..............................
Under one year.
1865.
36,460
9,672
1866.
41,694
11,750
1867.
45,527
11,424
Above one year.
1865.
33,752
10,446
1866.
27,391
10,293
1867.
22,755
9,129
5. Of the lymph in use in this Circle, I have observed that when the children
operated upon are of a somewhat fair complexion and thin-skinned, the resulting
vesicles are normal in shape and appearance, but are somewhat small in size. The
red areolæ also develope nicely in the majority of them. But the containing lymph,
though clear, is not sufficiently viscid ; it is somewhat watery in nature, and when pre-
served in capillary tubes retains its active qualities for at most eight to ten days,
after which it becomes inert. In the dark children of Bheels, Tullavias, and of the
Kaleepuruj people, the lymph does not produce anything like normal vesicles, nor is any
red areolæ to be seen in them; but the fever of maturation is in almost all cases present.
Speaking generally, therefore, the lymph in use is on the whole good ; at the same time,
it must be stated that it is not so good as it ought to be, or as what it was a few years
ago, for some of the old and good Vaccinators have stated to me that the lymph
in use in former years produced very good, large vesicles full of thick and clear lymph.
The introduction of some active lymph in this Circle fresh from the cow is very desir-
able.
6. During the hot season reports of the deterioration of lymph were received from
a few Vaccinators, and during the monsoon several reported loss of lymph. Where
it was practicable, a child with fresh lymph from an adjacent worker was supplied;
in other instances, fresh lymph in capillary tubes was sent from Surat.