NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
( xix )
No. 1813.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
Bombay Castle, 30th September 1868.
Letter from the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department, No.
1739, dated 25th May 1868—Submitting his Annual Report for
1867 on Vaccination throughout the Bombay Presidency, includ-
ing Sind.
RESOLUTION.—Exclusive of Military Cantonments, the number of opera-
tions performed during the year throughout the Presidency, inclusive of
Native States, amounted to 391,415, which exceeds those performed in the
preceding year by 11,918. The details are given in the following table:—
Vaccination under Superintendents in British Terri¬
tory by Govrenment Establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vaccination under Superintendents in British Terri-
tory by 13 Local and 20 Municipal Vaccinators . .
Vaccination under Superintendents and others in
Native Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vaccination under Civil Surgeons, &c, &c. (includ-
ing the work performed by 5 Municipal Vacci¬
Vaccination in Dispensaries by the Medical Subor¬
dinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deduct Decrease . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net Increase . . . . . . . .
In 1867.
239,446
34,168
82,832
30,731
4,238
391,415
......
In 1866.
236,964
31,093
74,743
36,697
379,497
......
......
Increase.
2,482
3,075
8,089
......
13,646
1,728
11,918
Decrease.
......
......
......
1,728
1,728
......
......
2. Only 26,140, or 7.16 per cent., of the operations shown above were
pronounced unsuccessful or doubtful. This result is better than that of
last year, viz., 7.83. The proportion between the number of operations
11 v
( xx )
performed on children under one year, viz., 159,575, and that on children
above one year, viz., 231,840, is nearly as 41 to 59, which also indicates
some improvement over the preceding year, when the ratio between the
respective numbers of children under and above one year operated on was
as 37 to 63. The number of males vaccinated being 210,378, and that of
females 181,037, the relative proportion between the sexes, which in round
numbers is 54 of the former to 46 of the latter, appears to have been much
the same as usual.
3. From paragraphs 3 to 12 of the report, Government observe that,
owing to the withdrawal of some of the Superintendents in consequence of
the exigencies of the service, the supervision in some parts was not as com-
plete as might be wished. But His Excellency in Council acknowledges
with satisfaction the good progress made notwithstanding these difficulties.
At the same time Government agree with the Inspector General in " the
necessity there always is for active and unbroken supervision."
4. The results given in paragraphs 15 and 16* of the report are very
interesting.
Number vaccinated.
* 15. Exclusive of vaccination performed in military cantonments, the total number
operated on during the year amounted to 391,415, being
an increase over the previous year of 11,918. This must
be deemed most satisfactory ; for if the vaccination of the Bombay Presidency is practised in a
population of about sixteen millions, it may be computed that the births annually may average
four hundred and eighty thousand. If, however, of these one-seventh die before the period
when vaccination is performed, there will remain about four hundred and ten thousand to be
vaccinated; so that if the present rate was continued there would probably not be more than
twenty thousand who year by year would go unvaccinated in this Presidency. It is true that
the number has only gradually risen to the amount shown, so that a considerable number are
arrears from former years ; nevertheless, there can be no doubt the general results are most
satisfactory, and would be more so could the actual state of population be ascertained, and
more Vaccinators employed where shown to be required.
Cost of vaccination.
16. As far as can be ascertained, the average cost of each successful vaccination to Govern-
ment, in Government Circles, is five annas and seven pies ;
increased vaccination will bring this down still further,
except in the city of Bombay, where, should compulsory vaccination be introduced, the private
practitioners should be remunerated, as in England and Scotland, for each certified successful
case.
( xxi )
5. In paragraph 17* of the report the average number of operations
performed by each Vaccinator during the year is stated to be about 1,827.
This does not appear to be correct. The number of Vaccinators
employed in 1867 being 270, and the total number of operations performed
391,415, the proportion performed by each Vaccinator cannot exceed 1,450
in round numbers.
Increase.
Central . . . . . .
Kattiwar . . . .
Rewa Kanta . .
Presidency . .
9,494
1,266
2,134
2,119
15,013
Decrease.
Sind . . . . . . . .
Southern
. . . .
Northern . . . .
Net increase..
10,305
1,423
803
12,531
2,482
15,013
6. The greatest fluctuations in 1867 are observable in the Central and
Sind Circles. The Governor in
Council has read the report from
the Central Circle with much inter-
est, and the satisfactory result ex-
hibited therein is creditable to the
Officers
concerned. From
the
report of the Superintendent in
Sind, it appears that the total
decrease in the British territory is 12,045, made up of that in the Government
return, viz., 10,305, and in the local return 1,740, against which there is
a partial set off in the increase in the Khyrpoor return, which is 1,554.
The net decrease in the whole Province is reduced to 10,491. This consi-
derable decline is to be regretted.
7. The returns of vaccination in the territories of Native Chiefs show
an increase on the previous year of upwards of 8,000. This is, on the whole,
satisfactory; but the Governor in Council observes that in Cutch the num-
ber of operations performed in the year by each Vaccinator amounted to
only 176. The Inspector General, however, urges, in paragraphs 23 and
24 of his report, that the general system under the Native States requires
* 17. During the last seven years the number of Vaccinators employed and the amount
of work have steadily, and pro rata, increased, as the following table will show :—
Year.
1861. . . . . . . . . . . .
1862 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1863 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1864 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1865 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1866 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1867 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number of Vac-
cinators.
201 . . . . . . . . . . .
197 . . . . . . . . . . . .
203 . . . . . . . . . . . .
218 . . . . . . . . . . . .
245 . . . . . . . . . . . .
236 . . . . . . . . . . . .
270 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annual number vaccinated.
259,668
244,792
267,995
332,894
358,178
379,497
391,415
131,747 more children were vaccinated in 1867 than in 1861, and an average of about 1,827
operations performed by each Vaccinator, or 6 per diem on every working day in the year.
( xxii )
considerable amendment, and, as the course necessary for perfecting the
existing system, recommends (paragraph 25) that the Vaccinators employed
by all the Native Chiefs should, if possible, be placed under the control of
the Superintendents of Vaccination, and receive there pay on the Super-
intendent's certificates. In paragraph 26 the Inspector General shows the
distribution of these States into the several Circles of superintendence. Be-
fore passing any decision on this proposal, the opinion of the local Politi-
cal Officers should be obtained, through the Political Department. With
regard to the concluding portion of paragraph 7, the attention of His
Highness the Khan of Junjeera must be directed, by the Political Depart-
ment, to the advantages of vaccination, with an intimation that a Vacci-
nator will be sent to his State, should he desire it.
8. Government observe with much satisfaction that twenty-five Vacci-
nators were maintained by Municipalities. The progress made in this
respect is gratifying, and the Right Honourable the Governor in Council
trusts that the extension of the system will receive the countenance and
support of all public Officers interested in Municipalities.
9. Government also observe that Vaccinators are paid out of Local
Funds only in Sind, where they seem to render good service. This
example might be more generally followed, and the Governor in Council
requests that the Revenue Commissioners will draw the attention of the
Local Funds Committees to the advantages of increasing the number of
Vaccinators.
10. The remarks in paragraph 31 of Dr. Arnott's report on the
accuracy of the returns are satisfactory. The attention of Superintendents
should be drawn to those contained in paragraph 32.
11. Government observe with regret that in the Southern Circle the
vaccination of infants makes so little progress.
12. The remarks of the Inspector General regarding the character of
the Vaccine Lymph sent out from England are of great importance, and
will be communicated to the Secretary of State, whose attention will be
drawn to the fact that the Lymph sent out in tubes has alone been found
to be useful. The quantity sent out is reported to be still insufficient, and
the Inspector General should be asked to report what quantity has been
received in the last three years, and how much will be required.
( xxiii )
13. The Governor in Council notices with pleasure that the services of
the Superintendents have met with the approval of the Inspector General.
It is also satisfactory to see that the Vaccination Establishments meet with
the support of the Civil and Political Authorities.
14. The services of Kishenchund, a local Vaccinator in Sind, who
was sent to Khelat, seem to deserve the commendation bestowed on him in
paragraph 57 of the Inspector General's report. It is to be hoped that the
Khan may be induced to take further steps in the matter.
15. In paragraph 59 the Inspector General recommends that, in the
absence of a system of compulsory vaccination throughout the country,
certificates of successful vaccination should, when there is no evidence of
protection by small-pox, be exacted from all candidates for Government
employment; and states that this arrangement has been for some time carried
out in Madras, and has recently been adopted in the North-Western Pro-
vinces. Before passing any orders on this subject, the Governments of
Madras and North-Western Provinces should be requested to favour this
Government with copies of their proceedings in the matter, and the Com-
missioner in Sind and Revenue Commissioners should be requested to
favour Government with their opinion and that of the Collectors on the
proposal.
16. The subjects brought forward in paragraphs 58 and 60 to 67 of the
report, viz., raising the scale of the pay of Vaccination Superintendents to
a par with that received by Officers in Medical charge of Native Regiments,
the grant of travelling batta to the Vaccinators, and the appointment of
Assistant Superintendents selected from among the Vaccinators themselves,
should be separately submitted.
17. The report for 1868 will be submitted by the newly appointed
Superintendent General of Vaccination.
(Signed)
M. J. SHAW STEWART,
Acting Chief Secretary to Government.
No. 3811 OF 1868.
To the SECRETARY to GOVERNMENT,
General Department.
SIR,—With reference to paragraph 12 of Resolution of Government No.
1813, dated 30th ultimo, requiring a report as to the quantity of Vaccine Lymph
that has been received during the last three years from the Right Honorable
the Secretary of State for India, I have the honor to forward letter No. 145,
dated 23rd instant, from the Superintendent General of Vaccination, which shews
that in 1866 five tubes of Lymph, in 1867 eight tubes, and in 1868 twenty
tubes, were received together with Lymph on points, which latter proved to be
generally unsuccessful.
" Tested Lymph means a number of tubes
charged from one child and put aside, say for
three weeks, and then one of them used ; if it be
successful it guarantees the virtue of the rest; if
it fail, it should not be sent to India."
2. The Superintendent General recommends that fifty tubes of tested
Lymph should be sent biennially, and
that the periods for transmission should
be the middle of October and the middle
of December; twenty-five of these tubes,
Dr. Pinkerton suggests, should be ob-
tained from the National Vaccine Insti-
tution, and twenty-five from the Edinburgh Dispensary, Dr. Husband; each of
these supplies should be divided into two, and one from each place, marked, sent
in the ice box of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer, and one from
each by the Post Office as usual. The object Dr. Pinkerton has in view in this
suggestion is to ascertain which is the best Lymph, and whether it can be better
preserved by being carried in the ice box.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
A. V. WARD,
For Inspector General, Indian Medical Department.
Bombay, 30th October 1868.
No. 145 OF 1868.
To the SECRETARY to the INSPECTOR GENERAL,
INDIAN MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
SIR—In answer to your letter No. 3676, dated 21st instant, I have the honor to report
that English Lymph in capillary tubes was issued from the Office of the Inspector General,
Indian Medical Department, on the following dates, and in the quantities named below, and
I apprehend these to be the quantities received from England.
1st, in December 1866 . . . . . . . . . . . .
2nd, in 1867. . . . . . . . . . . .
3rd, in January 1868 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . .
5 tubes.
8 do.
20 do.
33
Besides tubes, ivory points have been sent in greater numbers, but have been generally
unfavourably reported on by Superintendents.
2. There are nine circles in the Bombay Presidency. I would beg to recommend that
tested lymph in tubes be sent out twice a year. I use the word tested-lymph as meaning a
number of tubes charged from one child and put aside for, say, three weeks, and then one of
them used ; if it be successful, it guarantees the virtue of the rest; if it fail, the virtue of the
other tubes belonging to one lot is at least doubtful, and should never be sent to India. I
am not aware whether Mr. Marson of the National Vaccine Institution, London, practices
this precautionary test before supplying tubes to India, but I know that it is practised by
Doctor Husband of the Royal Dispensary in Edinburgh. I think one lot of fifty tubes
should leave England about the middle of October, and a second lot of fifty should leave
England by the 15th December. These dates would enable the new lymph to be propa-
gated in the cold season.
3. I would beg to suggest that one-half of each supply be obtained from the National
Vaccine Establishment in London, and the other half from Doctor Husband of Edinburgh ;
and I would further beg to suggest that each supply from London be divided into two por-
tions, one to be sent in the ice box of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer, and
the other by post, and that the Edinburgh lymph be treated in the same way.
4. If these suggestions be acted on we will find out—
1st.—Whether London or Edinburgh lymph suits best in India.
2nd.—Whether lymph is better preserved by being carried in an ice box than
by the usual way.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
J. PINKERTON, M. D., Surgeon,
Superintendent General Vaccination.
Bombay, 23rd October 1868.
her Mr. Marson of the National Vaccine Institution, London, practices
test before supplying tubes to India, but I know that it is practised by
the Royal Dispensary in Edinburgh. I think one lot of fifty tubes
and about the middle of October, and a second lot of fifty should leave
th December. These dates would enable the new lymph to be propa-
eason.
eg to suggest that one-half of each supply be obtained from the National
rent in London, and the other half from Doctor Husband of Edinburgh ;
r beg to suggest that each supply from London be divided into two por¬
t in the ice box of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer, and
and that the Edinburgh lymph be treated in the same way.
ggestions be acted on we will find out—
Whether London or Edinburgh lymph suits best in India.
Whether lymph is better preserved by being carried in an ice box than
by the usual way.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
J. PINKERTON, M. D., Surgeon,
Superintendent General Vaccination.
October 1868.
10
16. It must not be understood, however, that the above remarks apply to all parts
of the Surat Zilla—on the contrary, in many of its purgunnas vaccination is carried on
as smoothly as in the other zillas. In those purgunnas which had hitherto offered resist-
ance to our progress during the year is as follows:—Talooka Bugwara, which afforded
difficulties in previous years, has now nearly every village more or less completely
protected by vaccination. Oodwara, the seat of the most ancient fire-temple in Western
India, is inhabited mostly by Parsee priests, who had hitherto rejected the advances
of our Vaccinator. A personal visit during the year under report has altered matters, and
nearly all unprotected Parsee children of this village have been now protected. In
Oomersaree, a sea-coast village, two young men of about 20 and 21 years of age, both
Parsees, died of small-pox in May, the knowledge of which induced many of these
people to get their children vaccinated.
17. The Kolie (fishermen) population of the sea-coast villages continue to re-
sist our efforts still. Their villages are situated in the midst of swamps of mud. Nearly
all the male part of the population are out at sea for seven or eight months of the year
with their country crafts, and return to their homes during the monsoon only, so to
get over the ingnorant prejudices and the extreme obstinacy of the fisherwomen is a
serious difficulty. But by patient perseverance they are sure to be overcome.
18. An opinion is entertained in some quarters that inoculation is only possible
where vaccination is not introduced, but in this Circle I have found it to be other-
wise. The fishermen prefer inoculation to vaccination, because, as they stated to me,
they think vaccination ineffectual, as it produces vesicles only in parts where punctures
are made; whereas they have great faith in inoculation, in which, though lymph is
introduced into one part, the pustules make their appearance all over the body.
These people resist vaccination, and send for inoculators to their villages. The villages
of Kosumba and Bhundhere, situated within two miles of Bulsar, were thus inoculated
in about May, though the Patels denied all knowledge of it. The inoculators, it seems,
have raised their fee from half a rupee to twelve annas, and there is reason to suspect
that the slight increase goes into the hands of Patels as hush-money for allowing the
inoculators to practise their injurious vocation. In one village, Vad, in the Chicklee
Talooka, the Patel not only got himself inoculated but some children of the village
also. I personally satisfied myself of this by a visit to the village, and then reported
the circumstance to the Collector of Surat.
Small-pox in the Northern Circle.
1. The following are the results of my inquiries regarding the small-pox returns
of the Surat and Broach Zillas for the year 1866.
2. It was necessary to know in what villages of the different talookas of the
Surat and Broach Districts small-pox prevailed, so that I should be enabled to go to
all or some of them and examine the past work of our Vaccinators, as also to institute
REPORT
ON
VACCINATION THROUGHOUT THE BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY AND SIND,
FOR THE YEAR 1868
Bombay:
PRINTED FOR GOVERNMENT AT THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS, BYCULLA.
1869.
REPORT
ON
VACCINATION THROUGHOUT THE BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY AND SIND,
FOR THE YEAR 1868.
Bombay:
PRINTED FOR GOVERNMENT AT THE
EDUCATION SOCIETY'S PRESS, BYCULLA.
1869.
No. 2664 OF 27TH JULY 1869.
From The INSPECTOR GENERAL, Indian. Medical Department,
To The SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, General Department.
Sir,—With reference to Memorandum, dated 14th instant, I have the
honour, in re-submitting the annual Report on Vaccination in the Presidency
of Bombay for the year 1868, prepared by the Superintendent General of
Vaccination, to state, that the efficiency of the Department under that Officer
is well displayed in the total increase shown to have taken place over the
previous year, of 34,838 Vaccinations. In some few instances decreases
have occurred, but they have been fully accounted for by the Superintendent
General.
2. Referring to para. 12 of the Report, I beg to state that a Superin-
tendent of Vaccination will not be withdrawn, except under pressing emer-
gency, and a report on the subject will always be required. Dr. Pinkerton
is correct in considering active supervision as the very life of this system of
Vaccination.
3. The sanction of the Government of India to an improved scale of
pay to the Department, generally, must be productive of much good.
4. In remarking on the Vaccination of Native States, Dr. Pinkerton, in
para. 19, does not see how to alter the relationship between the Vaccinator
and the Superintendent, but in some States he is not sure but that something
could be done to improve matters. I think, with my predecessor, that some
changes are desirable and might be introduced, but deem it advisable that the
Superintendent General should at a future period give the result of his
experience on this point. There is, however, one step in advance recom-
mended by Dr. Pinkerton, namely, that Vaccinators entertained under Native
States should neither be engaged nor discharged without the approval of the
Circle Superintendent. This recommendation is well worthy the considera-
tion of Government. I would also strongly recommend that the pay of Vacci-
nators of Municipalities should not be fixed or altered without reference to
the Superintendent General, and that they should not be removed from their
appointments without his approval; this latter appears to be very necessary,
as the summary dismissal by a Municipality would involve the necessity of
a sudden demand for a trained Vaccinator, not easily nor always obtainable.
v