NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
3
I quite concur in the opinion of the Superintendent General of Vacci-
nation that Superintendents should have only vaccination duties to attend
to. I would suggest, however, that Dr. Pinkerton should be desired to bring
forward the subject separately.
10. Paragraph 16 contains a simple and easy method of registration of
vaccination in villages.
11. I regret to see that the lymph in use was so frequently "bad,"
and hope that the active means advocated by the Superintendent General
will ensure an improvement in this respect during the next year. It is the
one fault which admits of no excuse, and damages the character of work
which may have been very good, but which is obliged to be taken on trust,
from the inability of Superintendents to inspect all work or the whole of
their respective Circles in one working season.
12. Inoculation appears to be falling out of popular practice, but it is
much to be feared that it will not be abolished from the faith of the people
so long as small-pox continues to be so prevalent and so fatal a disease.
Much must remain to be done by the Superintendent General, when he re-
ports (paragraph 23) that of 21,943 cases of small-pox, 93.5 per centum
were " unprotected." I would ask, How is it possible that any population
in the Presidency can have 93 per cent. of its number unvaccinated ? It
would have been interesting if further particulars of the means adopted to
protect the people of the two Talookas specially named were stated. The
whole of the figures in the earlier portion of this paragraph are untrust-
worthy. The small difference of the death-rate of the protected and unpro-
tected is contrary to all experience.
13. I think it must be accepted as being creditable to the Department
that so few instances of a want of truthfulness in Vaccination Returns have
come to light (paragraph 24), and that (paragraph 25) the conduct of the
Vaccinators has been generally well spoken of.
14. The percentage of success (paragraph 27) is doubtless in reality
less than 96.2. There are so many influences which tend to destroy the
perfectness of a vaccine vesicle on which success depends, even when the
Vaccinator's work has been as good as possible.
15. I think there can be no doubt that the Establishment has worked well
during the year under report, and I would beg to support the Superintend-
ent General's notice of the good work of individual Officers.
16. I should be glad if Government would sanction the recommenda-
tion in the concluding portion of paragraph 36, the Weekly Returns being
of much importance.
4
17. Upon the great question as to whether Syphilis can be communi-
cated by vaccination, no negative evidence can be of use. It must be
settled by direct experiment. The only practical use of the inquiry so far,
is to make it certain that no mischief can be communicated if only pure
lymph be used; and this is of great importance.
18. I observe in paragraph 38 that mention is made of the result of
an inspection of some schools at Vingorla. In three schools 18 unprotected
children were found. Although this subject has been frequently mooted
before, and has been unfavourably decided upon, I cannot help recording my
strong opinion, that no child should be admitted to a Government school
unless actually protected by vaccination, or at least, with the permission of
the guardians, that the child should be vaccinated on the first convenient
opportunity.
19. In conclusion, I would express a hope that Government will see in
this Report evidence of good work in the Vaccination Department, and of the
intelligence, zeal, and activity of the Superintendent General of Vaccination.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. THOM,
For Inspector General, Indian Medical Department,
REPORT
ON
VACCINATION THROUGHOUT THE BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY AND SIND,
FOR THE YEAR 1869-70.
Change of the year for report
from the calendar to the official
year.
This is the Second Annual Report of the Superintendent General of
Vaccination. It embraces a period of fifteen months, viz. from 1st January
1869 to 31st March 1870, but the returns for the first three months of 1869
are shown separately, so that the returns for 1869-70 can be compared with
those of 1868. Until the year 1855 the annual returns and reports of vacci-
nation were made for the official year, but they
were thereafter rendered according to the
calendar year; and now, the Government of
India in their Resolution No. 5304, dated 9th December 1869, have directed
that all reports and returns shall be for the official year. In order to comply
with the Resolution, I did not submit a report or returns for the calendar
year 1869, but have made out a return showing the vaccinations performed
between the 1st January and 31st March 1869 in the old forms, and the returns
for the official year 1869-70—i. e., from 1st April 1869 to 31st March 1870—
are drawn up in the new forms which the Government of India, in the above-
mentioned Resolution, directed to be brought into use for and from the year
commencing 1st April 1870. But I have considered it advisable to show the
returns for 1869-70 in the new forms, so as to have them more perfect by
next year. There are some columns of the new forms blank : for instance,
the columns under "Re-vaccination" are all blank, because re-vaccination
had not been introduced; but instructions have been issued to the Vaccinators
to re-vaccinate all who are willing to be re-vaccinated, and arrangements
have been made for using the new forms henceforth.
Divisions of the Report.
2. The Report consists of—first, a statement of the general working of
the Vaccination Department; second, extracts
from the Reports of the Superintendents of
Vaccination, Civil Surgeons, and others holding independent Medical charges;
( iv )
and, third, the tables of figures showing the results, &c. for the 1st quarter
of 1869 in the old forms, and a new set of forms showing the results, &c. for
1869-70 under two grand divisions—A, Vaccine Department or Peregrinating
Establishments, and B, Dispensary Vaccination or Stationary Establish-
ments. In addition to these, I have added a table showing the vaccinations
among European and Native troops, Cantonment bazars, &c. There are also
tables in which the monthly employment returns of the Superintendents
are summarized.
Government Peregrinating Es-
tablishment.
3. The strength and constitution of the Government Peregrinating
Vaccination Establishment is the same as was
stated in last report, with the exception of the
addition of 14 extra Peons on Rs. 6 per mensem each, being two to each
Circle Superintendent, except the Superintendent of the Presidency Circle.
The sanction of the Government of India to this increase of Peons was made
known by this Government's Resolution No. 572, dated 6th March 1869.
Government Station Vaccina-
tors.
4. The Government of India, in Memorandum No. 2849, dated 21st
June 1869, made known in this Government's
Resolution No. 1569, dated 2nd July 1869,
expressed an opinion that Station Vaccinators "are fairly chargeable to the
towns for which they are kept up;" and I was called on for a report on the
subject, and gave my opinion that the stations should maintain their own
Vaccinators, and suggested that the Government Vaccinators at Poona,
Ahmednuggur, Sholapoor, Nassick, and Belgaum might at once be trans-
ferred to the Superintendents of Circles for duty in the districts, as each of
these towns has one Municipal Vaccinator, except Poona, which has two, as
well as a Military Station Vaccinator; and I further stated that I was of
opinion that the Municipalities of Sattara, Dhoolia, Dharwar, Rutnagherry,
Kaira, Surat, Broach, Kurrachee, Hydrabad, and Shikarpoor, were each able
to maintain a Vaccinator ; and with regard to the Karwar Station Vaccinator,
I thought he as well as the others might be handed over for work in the
districts, because the town contains too few people to keep a Vaccinator
always employed. My views on the whole subject were laid before Govern-
ment in letter No. 2731, dated 30th July last, from the Inspector General,
Indian Medical Department, to the Secretary to Government, General Depart-
ment. As far as I know, Nassick only has taken upon itself (from 19th
November last) to maintain a single Vaccinator (vide this Government's
Resolution No. 3024, dated 21st December last). The Civil Surgeon of Dhoo-
lia in his report states that the Municipality of that town has sanctioned the
amount necessary to maintain its own Vaccinator from the beginning of the
( v )
official year 1870-71. It was my wish, as stated in the 4th paragraph, of letter
No. 579, dated 27th July last, to the Inspector General, Indian Medical
Department, that, on these stations agreeing to maintain a Vaccinator of their
own, the Government Vaccinators should be transferred for duty in the
districts under Superintendents of Vaccination, because there are in nearly
all Circles too few Vaccinators; but the Inspector General, Indian Medical
Department, was pleased in his letter No. 4520, dated 16th December last,
to state, in reference to the Nassick Vaccinator, "that the saving effected by
the transfer of the vaccinating duties at Nassick to the Municipality should
lapse absolutely to Government, and the services of the Vaccinator and Peon
cannot therefore be made available for any other purpose." I regret this,
for the reason above given, and also because, if all station vaccination
expenditure be thus treated, it will reduce the grant for vaccination by
Rs. 3,500 annually, which might be very useful in case of a reorganization
of the Department, as there is every reason to suppose that the Government
of India will not sanction more than the present expenditure for any kind
of reorganization.
Municipal Vaccinators.
5. There has been an increase in the number of Vaccinators maintained by
Municipalities, and there is every probability
that the number will be still further increased,
and Government relieved of the expenditure on account of vaccination in all
towns capable of maintaining their own Vaccinator. The following is a list
of the towns which maintain Vaccinators out of Municipal funds : —
Circle.
CENTRAL
....
Name of Town.
1. Poona ...........
2. Joonere .........
3. Indapoor ..........
4. Ahmednuggur .......
5. Sholapoor .............
6. Barsee ............
7. Punderpoor ............
8. Sangola ..............
9. Kulladghee ...........
10. Bagulkote ..........
11. Becjapoor ............
12. Nassick .............
13. Barramuttee .......
Name of Collectorate.
Poona ............
Do. ..........
Do
Ahmednuggur .........
Sholapoor ............
Do
Do.
Do.
Kulladghee ..........
Do
Do
Nassick ...............
Kulladghee ..........
Total.. ..
Number of
Vaccinators.
1869-70.
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
14
1868.
2
..
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
13
( vi )
Circle.
SOUTHERN ..
NORTHERN..
SIND ...............
WESTERN .. <
Name of Town.
1.Khanapoor .........
2. Moon .............
3. Kurrar ...............
4. Walwa
5. Korehon ........
6. Malseerus ..........
7. Belgaum ..............
8. Hooble ................
9. Gudduck and Bette¬
ghurry .................
10. Khatow ..........
11. Uthnee
12. Sircy ...............
1. Ahmedabad ......
2. Veerungaum ..........
3.Dholka ...............
1. Kotree ..................
1. Tanna
2. Panwell ..............
3. Oorun ..............
Name of Collectorate.
Total....
Ahemedabad .........
Do
Kaira ..............
Total ........
Kurrachee ............
Total....
Tanna .............
Colaba ..............
Do. ...............
Total ......
Grand Total..
Number of
Vuccinators.
1869-70.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
12
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
3
34
1868.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
..
..
..
9
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
3
30
It appears that there is an increase in the Southern Circle of three, and
in the Central Circle of one Municipal Vaccinator. I think all towns of
20,000 inhabitants should maintain a Vaccinator, and that he should vacci-
nate in all villages within a radius of three or four miles of the Municipal
town. Superintendents should endeavour to persuade Municipalities to
maintain their own Vaccinators, wherever it seems advisable that they
should do so.
( vii )
Local Fund Vaccinators.
6. During the past year three Local Fund Vaccinators were appointed
in the collectorate of Poona, and six in Dhar-
war. Tanna, Colaba and Rutnagherry Collec-
torates have provided for several in their budgets for 1870-71. The institution
of Local Fund Vaccinators first took place in Sind; they have been at work
now for several years there, and have proved of great use in aiding the weak
Government establishment.
Native States' Vaccinators.
7. The number of Vaccinators paid by Native States has also been
increased. In the Kattiawar Circle three have
been appointed by the Thakore of Bhow-
nuggur, and one by the Thakore of Mallia. In the Northern Circle
one was appointed by the State of Dhurrumpoor. In the Rewa Kanta
Circle the Rajah of Loonawarra (who formerly maintained one in conjunction
with the Nawab of Balasinore) maintains two, and the Nawab one; a second
one has been maintained out of the Barria tribute, and one has been
appointed for the Sunkeria Mewas,—thus making an increase of four. There
was a total increase of nine.
Native Assistant Superintendents.
8. Dr. Butler is of opinion that there is a tendency in Kattiawar Circle
to have too many Vaccinators; this should be
guarded against; and he thinks that the " num-
ber employed by the Chiefs is sufficient to do the whole work in Kattiawar,
and the Government Vaccinators, with the exception of two (who might be
retained for the purpose of being sent at a moment's notice to any place where
small-pox may break out) should be removed." I beg to recommend that
this suggestion be adopted, and that the two whom Dr. Butler wishes to remain
should be the two best men of his Circle, and that they be made Native
Assistant Superintendents. At present there are eight Vaccinators in the
Kattiawar Circle, one of whom is used as a Writer in the office of the Super-
intendent; the cost to Government is Rs. 142 per mensem. I would beg to
propose that this sum he expended as follows:—
2 Native Assistant Superintendents, at Rs. 50 each per mensem..
2 Peons for ditto
ditto
at Rs. 7 each
ditto ...
1 Writer for Superintendent's Office, per mensem ...................
Rs. 100
„ 14
„ 28
Rs. 142
But perhaps it will be better that this stand over until I receive the
answers of the Revenue Commissioners to my recommendation, that the
payment of all Vaccinators should be from Local Funds, and that Native
Superintendents in all Circles should be paid from the Imperial Funds thus
( viii )
set free. In the Sind Circle two of the Government Vaccinators have for
several years back been employed as Native Assistant Superintendents with
very great advantage. Their Government pay is supplemented by an addition
from the Local Fund grant.
Dispensary Vaccination.
9. In Circular No. 2990, dated 27th August 1868, the Inspector General,
Indian Medical Department, at my suggestion,
issued instructions to Medical Subordinates and
others in charge of Dispensaries to carry on vaccination as an important part
of their duty. I have much pleasure in stating that they have in many instances
responded well thereto, but in others the number of operations is very small
indeed. It would appear that, as a rule, we need not expect people to come
to the Dispensaries to ask for vaccination, and nothing short of carrying the
means of vaccination to their doors will induce the masses to accept it. So
long as this is the case the number of operations at Dispensaries must be small.
Wherever there is a Municipal Vaccinator in a town having a Dispensary, I
think it would be well for the Vaccinator to vaccinate one day a week at the
Dispensary, and two days he should vaccinate in the streets, taking street by
street. In cases where there are no Municipal Vaccinator, I think a Medical
pupil should be attached to the Dispensary, and he should carry on vaccina-
tion in the same manner as a Municipal Vaccinator. A town having a
Dispensary or Municipal Vaccinator should not be vaccinated by a rural
Vaccinator, except in cases of emergency. Again, in small towns having a
Dispensary, it would be well only to vaccinate during the cold season,
because the number of children is too few to enable the Medical Subordinate
to have a sufficient number of subjects all the year round to insure his always
being able to select a good vaccinfer.
Payment of peregrinating Vac-
cinators from Local Funds instead
of from Imperial Funds.
10. In the 8th paragraph of Government Resolution No. 1939, dated 13th
August 1869, I was directed to place myself in
communication, through the Revenue Commis-
sioners, with the several Presidents of Com-
mittees, and ascertain how far they are disposed to pay the rural Vaccinators
out of Local Funds; and Government stated if the Imperial expenditure on
their account could be set free, it might be devoted to strengthening the
staff of Superintendents. Before asking the question, I considered it advisable
first to endeavour to obtain an idea of how many Vaccinators are necessary
for each collectorate. I therefore asked the Revenue Commissioners to favour
me with statements showing the number of talookas, the area, and population
of each collectorate. Having obtained this information, I calculated that we
should require about forty more Vaccinators in the Southern Division, and
( ix )
about twenty more in the Northern Division, than there are at present, if the
wish of Government, to have one in each talooka, were carried out. I have
submitted a scheme to the Revenue Commissioners of the Northern and
Southern Divisions, and as soon as I receive their answers I will send up my
report to Government on the subject; but I may briefly state that the scheme
consists in having one Vaccinator for each talooka, to be paid from local in-
stead of imperial revenue, and the money so set free to be expended in payment
of Native Assistant Superintendents, who will aid the European Superintend-
ents. At present our Superintendents cannot exercise any real practical
supervision over the Vaccinators on account of the great size of their Circles.
They control and direct, but they cannot exercise a close supervision.
Native Assistant Superintend-
ents.
11. There is not the least doubt but that we ought to have Native Assist-
ant Superintendents to assist the European
Superintendents. It may be a question whether
it would not be better to have Native graduates of Medicine as Superintend-
ents, and no European Medical Officers. The Honourable Mr. Chapman has
given a good deal of attention to this subject, and he seems to think that
there should be a Sub-Assistant Surgeon, or a qualified Native Medical man,
as Superintendent in each collectorate. I at once allow that such an
arrangement would be better than our present method, of having a Commis-
sioned Medical Officer superintending very large areas, over which he cannot
keep a close supervision; but on making a rough calculation I found that to
do so the cost would be about six times more than at present. My own
views were, therefore, modified by the consideration of expense; and I came
to the conclusion that the European Superintendents should remain as at
present, and that the money set free, by the Local Fund Committees taking
upon themselves to pay the rural Vaccinators, should be employed to pay
Native Assistant Superintendents, who should be chosen from among the
Vaccinators themselves. The advantages of this are, that the prospect of
promotion to the grade of Native Assistant Superintendent would stimulate
Vaccinators to work well, and induce good men to seek employment in the
Department. At present we have only four Commissioned Medical Officers,
who are full-timed Superintendents of Vaccination, namely :—
Assistant Surgeon Gordon in the Central Circle.
Ditto
Raby
ditto Southern Circle.
Ditto
Blanc
ditto Western Circle.
Ditto
Williams ditto Sind Circle.
These receive their pay from the Vaccination Department. Surgeon
Butler is Superintendent of Vaccination in Kattiawar, for which he draws
2 vac
( x )
Rs. 100 per mensem, but his substantive appointment is the Civil Surgeoncy of
Rajkote. This arrangement is not a good one, and I am of opinion that the
Superintendent should have no other than vaccination duties to do. How-
ever, I am bound to say that Dr. Butler has managed his Circle with great
credit; and his knowledge of Kattiawar is so valuable, that I would not
propose to disturb the present arrangement so long as he remains in his pre-
sent position. Again, Assistant Surgeon Welsh is Superintendent of Rewa
Kanta Circle, and receives no pay from the Vaccination Department; his pay is
passed to him as Medical Officer of the Guzerat Bheel Corps; and recently
his appointment was classified among the second class civil stations. The
other two Superintendents are both Natives,—one is Dr. Colah, Superintend-
ent of the Northern Circle, who draws, as an Uncovenanted Medical Officer,
a pay of Rs. 350, and the other is Mr. Anunta Chandroba, Superintendent of
the Presidency Circle, who also draws Rs. 350 per mensem. It thus appears
that the abolition of the European superintendence would only save the pay
of four Officers, and Rs. 100 per mensem of a fifth. To substitute Native
Medical men, at the rate of one for each collectorate, or even for every two
collectorates, would cost three times more in the latter case, and six times
more in the former, than at present. However, if Government are willing
to meet the increased expenditure, I think the superintendence would be
closer and, practically, of more value. There is one general advantage in
having Commissioned Medical Officers as Superintendents, and it is that
they are available for Military duty in time of war or any emergency: but
this is no advantage to vaccination. In conclusion, I will add again that the
present superintendence is very inadequate and that it ought to be increased,
and I trust we will be able to increase it by aid from Local Funds. I cannot
speak more definitely until I get the answers from the Revenue Commis-
sioners regarding the willingness or unwillingness of Local Funds' Committees
to take upon themselves the pay of the rural Vaccinators. I have not yet
brought this subject before the Commissioner in Sind, because there are
thirteen Vaccinators paid by Local Funds, and two Assistant Superintendents
paid in part by Local Funds and in part by Government, already in Sind.
Refusal of the Government of
India to grant travelling batta to
Vaccinators, and the suggestion
to give batta for all successful
vaccinations above a fixed num-
ber.
12. I mentioned in the third part of the 13th paragraph of my last Report,
that it had been recommended to grant travel-
ling batta to all itinerant Vaccinators. This
subject was brought before the Government of
India (vide Resolution No. 16, dated 26th
January last), and refused in their letter No.
3157, dated 9th July last; but it was added, that "it might be possible to