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for treatment at the dispensary. During the prevalence of this epidemic great
sanitary precantions have been taken since my arrival. The disease disappeared
from this town immediately on finishing the vaccination in July last.
TÁTTA DISPENSARY.
Mr. Sylvester, Apothecary.
Population 7,951.
The number vaccinated this year is 342, and the number of operations were
364 or 23 in excess of persons. In comparing the number vaccinated with the
preceding year there appears an increase of 233 in favour of this year. This in-
crement is due to the following circumstance. At the end of March it was reported
that there were 105 children still unprotected in the town, although previous to
this vaccination was carried on continuously from week to week, and the peons
could not succeed in bringing more than 3 or 4 at a time. However during
the month of April last, with the assistance of the head munshi and some
of the municipal commissioners, I managed to obtain 76 children for vacci-
nation. Again during the month of May Dr. Williams visited this town,
and through his influence nearly 700 children were collected for inspection.
Out of this number 163 were found unprotected and lymph being at hand.
104 of them were vaccinated by me on the spot and others gradually
afterwards, so that in the month of May there were in all 190 children
operated upon. Since then vaccination continued until the end of December,
when no more children could be had.
2. Out of the number vaccinated there were 233 males and 108 females and
these when classified according to caste were 198 hindús and 143 musalmans : 60
of them were under one year and 281 above it. The result of those primarily
vaccinated was 272 successful, 72 unsuccessful and doubtful, and 20 unknown ;
the percentage of successful cases being 79.0. Several of the unsuccessful cases
were operated on two or three times without beneficial results. One young man
with faint marks of previous vaccination was revaccinated unsuccessfully.
3. The condition of the lymph was generally good. The vesicles were round
and pearly with a central depression, the skin surrounding it being lense, painful,
and rosy red in fair children. The cicatrices were circular foveated, depressed,
and of a darkish colour.
4. I am glad to record that there has been no case of small-pox this year.
I am not aware of inoculation being practised here. The chief obstacle to the
spread of vaccination is the prejudices amongst hindús ; as they believe that their
deity is displeased if the children are vaccinated, and many of them in consequence
prefer to be attacked by small-pox. This idea could only be removed gradually
as education advances, and the benefits of vaccination are more appreciated.
5. This is a large town and although a great many have been vaccinated this
year, I am assured there are still more unprotected ; and these can only be de-
tected by frequently going about the streets. Very few voluntarily present their
children for vaccination, and those vaccinated are often hidden to prevent the
lymph being removed. Often, children vaccinated during a week cannot be found
next week, and if these are present fresh subjects are not forthcoming. Also the
mukhtiarkar's peons being frequently changed, the children are brought irregu-
larly, and thus the lymph becomes degenerated and unfit for use. To obviate all
these drawbacks and to ensure the dissemination of vaccination effectively I would
suggest that a special peon should be allowed me, whose duty should be solely to
look out for children during the week and have them ready on the vaccination day.
9 VAC