42
Cost,
6. The average cost of each successful vaccination has varied annually for the
last five years ; depending on the total of successful
cases and the total cost. In 1867 each successful case
cost 6 annas and 7 pies, whilst in 1868 each case cost only 5 annas and 3 pies; the
total cost, in the latter instance, being considerably below the average, owing to the
appointment of Superintendent having been vacant for three or four months. We
may expect the average cost to be from 6 to 7 annas for each successful case. In the
majority of Dispensaries there has been no cost, excepting a rupee or two paid for
bringing vaccinifers from a Talooka Vaccinator to the Dispensary. But in Larkhaua
there has been some payment made for vaccinating, jointly by Government and the
Municipality, amounting to Rs. 134, so that each successful case cost 6 annas and
2 pies. At Sehwan, too, a sum of Rs. 7 a month was allowed for vaccinating, which,
I believe, has been stopped. It has always been very difficult to carry on vaccination
at Sukkur ; indeed, the same complaint comes from every Dispensary; and I am afraid
that if the large Dispensaries have not the means to keep a Peon, with a fee to encour-
age the Vaccinator, that the number of vaccinations will dwindle to nothing.
Small-pox.
7. From returns kindly furnished me by the Commissioner in Sind, there appear
to have been 471 deaths from small-pox during the
year 1849. In the several Collectorates the following
numbers are given :—Shikarpoor 234, Kurrachee 13-1, Hydrabad 79, Thurr and
Parkur 23, Jacobabad 1 = total 471. The disease prevailed chiefly during the first
five months of the year. For the first three months of 1870 the returns are compa-
ratively favourable, there being only 7 deaths in the whole of the Shikarpoor Talookas,
and one in Jacobabad, none in Hydrabad, and none in the Thurr and Parkur. In
the Kurrachee Talookas there were 28 deaths from small-pox : these, I believe, occurred
in the town or immediate neighbourhood of Kurrachee. I understand the Munici-
pality have been advised to appoint another Vaccinator, and they are likely to adopt this
excellent measure ; but concerning the outbreak of small-pox, and state of vaccination
in Kurrachee, the Civil Surgeon will, I have no doubt, fully report. As I have not
complete returns of deaths from small-pox for 1868 by me, I am unable to compare
them with those of the past year ; but from such papers as I have at hand, it would
appear that small-pox prevailed all over Sind, but not to what may be termed a very
considerable extent. There is a report of 149 deaths from small-pox in the Kurrachee
Collectorate in March 1868, of 69 deaths in the Shikarpore Collectorate in January
1868, reports of outbreaks of small-pox from the Thurr and Parker and Jacobabad.
At the end of the year a good deal of small-pox prevailed at Rohree and Sukkur ;
also at Tatta, and at Sonmeanee on the Mekran Coast. The sources of infection are
said to be the neighbouring States, Bahawulpoor, Beloochistan, and the districts to
the east of Sind.
8. It was reported to me once that an Inoculator was at work in the Rohree
districts ; the Mukhtiarkar investigated the case, and said the report was unfounded :
but I will see for myself when I make my next tour in Upper Sind.