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months of 1868 it was not much known, but on the approach of the hot weather,
it began to spread with marked vigour ; and it was not till the rains set in that its
virulence abated. It must not be understood that it has disappeared, for it is still
lingering in some parts, and may again appear to a more or less extent during the
hot months.
10. Epidemics of small-pox, though in their result very disastrous, are not with-
out some advantages. If no human persuasion and example can teach a person the
benefits of vaccination, a visit of small-pox in his family teaches him thoroughly.
Hence each epidemic of small-pox establishes the advantages of, and makes many con-
verts to vaccination.
11. In the last epidemic, and I believe it must have been the same in previous
ones, the greatest prevalence of small-pox was in places which had resisted vaccination.
In December 1867 it prevailed to a considerable extent in two populous villages of
Jumbooseer talooka, viz.; in Sarode and Kavee. I took my camp to Sarode shortly
after (in the early part of January 1868), and learnt the following particulars : Sarode is
a large village, divided into two parts by a deep ravine; one part is called Tulput, and
is chiefly inhabited by Mahomedan agriculturists and others; the other part, called
Wanta, is inhabited by Hindoos, Kolies, &c. This latter, the Wanta portion, had admit-
ted vaccination in former years, but the Tulput portion had baffled all the efforts of the
Vaccinator, who seems to have been dismayed, and to have not visited the village again
for the last three years. During the late outbreak most small-pox prevailed in the
Tulput portion, and many deaths occurred there. On the breaking out of the disease,
vaccination was eagerly sought after, and, before the Vaccinator could commence
work, some of the villagers took their children to Broach for vaccination. Even during
the last epidemic, whenever they got their children readily vaccinated, they were so
annoying and troublesome, as not to show their children on the week-day following,
but closed up their doors as soon as the Vaccinator was known to be in the street.
12. During epidemic seasons the greatest mischief always is found to occur in
Kusba towns and cities, and it is in such places that, on the breaking out of the disease,
people shake off their apathy, and admit vaccination. Occasional instances are known
where the prejudice is so great as to make the people believe in the occurrence of
small-pox as a divine dispensation. Such people oppose vaccination even during epi-
demic seasons, and to the entreaties of our vaccinators are said to have replied " Jao
Jee, kia toom Allah se bhi burrah ho ke ? " (Are you mightier than the Almighty
God: go your way).
13. As an instance of extreme reluctance to vaccination, I would mention one
case which occurred in this Circle. Small-pox broke out in Pahlunpore, a large and
populous Kusba, about 18 miles from the important military cantonment of Deesa.
There is a Vaccinator attached to this place, in charge of the Kusba and surrounding
villages. He was working in Pahlunpore at the time of the outbreak, but with the
view of checking the epidemic, the Government Vaccinator of Deesa Cantonment was