8
has already had influence in the case of several high caste Hindu Rajás, who have
willingly allowed it to be used. It also possesses the advantage of remaining
fairly solid at a moderately high temperature and not spilling when the tube
is opened for use, and it seems to preserve the lymph for a considerable time at
full strength. Both Drs. Bamber and James speak very highly -of it, and as
I have also seen numerous vesicles produced by it, I can fully confirm all these
officers have said, having inspected many children and adults vaccinated with it.
It will be seen from Dr. Bamber's Report that it costs about half the amount now
spent on fresh buffalo calf lymph, while its efficacy is equal, if not superior, to the
latter. Further, the animals from which the lymph is taken are selected, num-
bered, registered and watched from first to last, so that everything about them is
known and any bad results can be traced; and, lastly, it at once puts an end to
all trouble in obtaining calves in the districts, as Vaccinators can take their
full supply with them at starting, and far more work can be done by them, as
has been shown by the number of operations performed in the Ráwalpindi
District; but, as has been pointed out by Dr. James, its chief disadvantage lies
in the fact that to ensure success it must be prepared with the greatest care.
It was the knowledge of this which made me stipulate with Dr. Bamber that
he must prepare it with his own hands with every bacteriological precaution,
and to his care in carrying out the conditions is most certainly due the great
success which has followed. To collect, prepare and mix the vaccine required
for 36,500 cases means physical labour of no ordinary kind, but the results have
been well worth it; and there is no doubt that its success has been secured by
the care and patience displayed in carrying out the work and in attention to
detail.
The superiority of vase-
line paste over
every
other kind of lymph de-
monstrated.
27. His Honor's remarks that " it is very desirable (on the ground that
in a country like India, where religious prejudices are wide-
spread and difficult to combat) to ascertain what substi-
tutes for the cow and buffalo are possible, and how far
native feeling may prefer them to the more usual vaccini-
fers " have been carefully borne in mind, and so far as we are able to judge, the
system now produced has been very favourably received by all classes. In 1893,
when advocating the adoption of the method, I summed up its advantages
under the following heads :—
1st.—It entirely abolishes arm to arm vaccination.
2nd.—It obviates any difficulty about obtaining calves in the different
districts.
3rd.—It provides lymph as pure as it is possible to obtain it, and
insures that the animals from which it comes are healthy.
4th.—It will immensely facilitate the movements of the Vaccinators
and enable them to perform many more operations.
5th.—It removes the native objections regarding the transmission of
diseases from one child to another, and also, so far as science
can prevent, the same happening from animals to man.
6th.—It is much less costly than the present system and less trouble-
some ; for however easy it may be to obtain calves for the
purpose in some places, it is exceedingly difficult to obtain
them in others.
The reports now furnished show conclusively, I think, that the
advantages I then claimed for the method have been obtained, and to these may
now be added, that high caste Hindús have willingly permitted their children
to be vaccinated; and thus it may be fairly said that we have succeeded in over-
coming, in great measure, the caste prejudices of the people against the
operation.
Proposal to introduce
vaseline paste lymph in
future.
28. I propose therefore, with the sanction of Government, to introduce
the use of the lymph preserved in the way mentioned as
extensively as possible during the ensuing vaccination
season 1896-97. I shall entrust its production and
the annual supply to Surgeon-Captain James, Deputy Sanitary Commissioner,
and I shall ask Surgeon-Major Bamber to assist at first as far as his other duties
will permit. It will be necessary to establish depôts for the production of the