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It must be stated here that, comparing Surat with other Zillahs of this Circle,
vaccination in it is attended with a great many difficulties, some of which were men-
tioned in paragraph 15 of my Report for 1867. But for the ignorant opposition of
the people in many parts, the work each year would have been greater.
17. Notwithstanding all the efforts of this establishment to push on vaccination
in the Surat districts, still there is always some amount of small-pox prevailing in these
parts. And this is principally due to inoculation being still in favour with the people.
There is no doubt that from year to year this injurious custom is practised, and I believe
this keeps small-pox going. In epidemic seasons the contagion spreads easily, and
the inoculators also getting more work in these times, become the principal agents for
the propagation and diffusion of small-pox virus. During the past year two reports at
short intervals were received from the Vaccinator of Chicklee regarding the carrying
on of inoculation in the villages of Ranveree, Rankoova, and Tulaochora. These were,
without loss of time, submitted to the Collector of Surat. Reports were also received
from Bulsar; but these came very late (in September) after all the mischief was over.
18. In the whole of Guzerat, from Mount Aboo in the north, to Bugwarra in
the south, and from Kutch and Kattiawar in the west, to the extensive territories in
the east of His Highness the Guicowar, and the Political Agency of Rewa Kanta and
Rajpeepla, vaccination is now being carried on steadily.
19. But there are two small territories in the southernmost part of Guzerat where
vaccination is unknown. These lie to the east of the Chicklee, Bulsar, and Bugwarra
talookas, and are the territories of the Rajahs of Bansda and Dhurrumpoor. They are
surrounded on all sides by vaccinated districts. Their western boundary is already
mentioned; to the north of the Bansda State is Guicowary territory lying very near to
Walor of Bardolee talooka ; to the east of the Bansda and Dhurumpoor States lie the
Solgana and Peint States, in which last vaccination is carried on by the establishment
of the Central Circle. To the east of Solgana and Peint States lie Khandeish districts.
In these territories of the Rajahs of Bansda and Dhurrumpoor, which are not blessed
with Vaccinators, reside the inoculators, who each year infest our territories, and do a
great deal of mischief, by carrying on inoculation. Whilst I was in Surat, during the
last rains, I called upon the Collector, who is also Agent for the Governor, and as such
is the medium of communication with these States; I suggested to him the
desirability of addressing the Durbars of the two States, to check the inoculators from
coming into our territory.
20. To introduce vaccination in these Native States would not, I believe, be
difficult. During the last epidemic the Vaccinator of Bulsar, being at the time very
near Dhurrumpoor, was sent for by the Rajah, who had some of his children vaccinated.
This is a hopeful sign. Endeavours will be made during the current year to make
an advance in this quarter.
21. But it is my strong belief that a simple extension of vaccination in the
quarter abovementioned will not result in the abatement, much less the suppression
4 v