12
asked for, and obtained, the direct calf method. Though the Muhammadans
showing a preference for the direct calf method, the Hindus were deprived of
their source of lymph supply, and, to prevent this, they tried to persuade the
Muhammadans to reject the calf lymph."
The Civil Surgeon of Delhi
was unable to attempt to
introduce calf lymph vac-
cination at present.
24. The Civil Surgeon of Delhi reports that he did not try calf lymph
in that city, because the Deputy Commissioner was opposed
to its introduction, owing to the tension that existed
between Muhammadans and Hindús for a great part of the
cold weather. He hopes, however, to make a beginning
next cold season.
The advantages of calf
lymph vaccination.
25. The success obtained in Lahore is very encouraging, and were it to be
successfully introduced into Amritsar and Delhi also, the pre-
judices of the people in the country districts would be gra-
dually overcome. As soon as these prejudices are overcome, I feel confident that
animal lymph vaccination will be more popular in this Province than vaccination
by lymph taken from the child for the two following reasons :—(1), as long as vacci-
nation is not universally practised, epidemics of small-pox will at times occur. The
only certain method of stamping out an epidemic is by vaccinating all persons who
are unprotected, and when human lymph is used, there is often considerable delay
before a sufficient supply is obtained ; and, in the meantime, the epidemic remains
unchecked. On the other hand, an ample supply of animal lymph can be obtained
in a short time. A calf's udder can readily be vaccinated in 20 to 30 places, and
from the lymph obtained from the resulting vesicles, at least 200 children can be
vaccinated. (2), the people of this Province, as a general rule, object to arm to
arm vaccination, partly on account of caste prejudices, and partly because they do
not like their children to be taken to a distance in order to give lymph for the
children of other villages. This is the principal reason why vaccination is at
present, to a certain extent, unpopular, and were animal lymph had recourse to,
the necessity of vaccinating from arm to arm would be done away with.
Introduction of compul-
sory vaccination in Amrit¬
sar city.
26. As long ago as 1875 a proposition was brought forward for in-
troducing compulsory vaccination into the city of Amritsar.
The matter has been under consideration since that time and
at last has been brought to a successful issue. The bye-laws
were published in the Punjab Gazette, under Notification No. 129, dated 29th
March 1887. Compulsory vaccination has also been under discussion in Lahore,
and it is hoped that the Municipal Committee, lately appointed, will be able to
take the matter in hand before long.
Mr. Purser's suggestions
regarding compulsory vac-
cination in the Municipal
towns of the
Rohtak
district.
27. Mr. Purser, the Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, who takes a great
interest in vaccination and sanitary matters, as a whole, is in
favour of its introduction into the Municipalities of his dis-
trict. He says in his report: "It appears to me that the
time has now come for Government to show that it really
takes an interest in this work (vaccination). Probably not less than three-fifths
of the children born are now vaccinated, and this result is obtained without any
complaint to speak of either by the vaccination establishment or against it. It
is then obvious that vaccination might be made compulsory without any danger
of widespread discontent. I do not recommend any such measure for the rural
circles, as vaccination is making its way in them of itself, and compulsion
is not therefore advisable. But in the Municipal towns, I think vaccination
should be made compulsory. It is not only that leaders of society in these
towns passively oppose vaccination, but they set a most dangerous example
which * * the lower classes are beginning to imitate. "We are threatened now
with a repetition of the purda absurdity. Formerly only the highest classes
used to keep their women excluded, now the lowest of the low, if they can afford
it, do so. Prompt measures should be taken to stop any such course of affairs in
respect of vaccination.
I may note that the Jhajjar Municipal Committee
have asked that vaccination may be made compulsory in that town.
If,
however, Government will not resort to compulsion, it might at least show
that it attaches some importance to vaccination by not specially honor-
ing those who oppose this salutary measure. Chairs should be taken from such
men, they should not be admitted to Darbárs, they should not be made members
of Municipal Committees by nomination, and they should be deprived of their