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quiries, viz., (1) to ascertain to what extent small-pox has affected those who were previously
vaccinated, and (2) to ascertain the cause of so many cases remaining unvaccinated. The
result of my inquiries, together with a compilation of the returns, shall form the subject of
a special report.
Precautionary Measures.
13. In case the disease travelled southwards, the vaccinators and the Assistant Superin-
tendents of Súrat and Broach Zilhás were cautioned to be
active and to be on the look out for the appearance of the
disease in their charges. In the cities of Súrat and Broach I had " battakis" beaten in all
parts of the town, informing the people of the appearance of the disease in other parts of
Gujráth, and calling upon them to have all their unprotected children submitted for vac-
cination.
Punishment of Inoculators in
Dharmpur.
14. Dharmpur and Bánsdá were in former years the breeding grounds of inoculators ;
the introduction of vaccination in them is, however, produc-
ing good results. During the year under report, 3,667
operations were performed. With the progress of vacci-
nation, inoculation is being weeded out. About the commencement of the year the Dharm-
pur vaccinator reported of inoculation having been carried on, in some villages, by a certain
person whom he was able to trace. This report was submitted to the Agent, for transmis-
sion to the Darbár, with a request that steps might be taken for the suppression of this dis-
gusting work. The result of this reference was very encouraging, and Mr. Shaw Stewart
wrote as follows in reply :—"The Dharmpur Rájá has written to me to say that he has
punished two persons who practised inoculation ; one of these was caught by the vaccinator
and the other by the Faujadár; they have both been sentenced to one month's rigorous impri-
sonment, and to pay a fine of Rs. 25, or, in default, to suffer three months' further imprison-
ment. The Rájá further says that he has made arrangements to look after such persons in
future." This was very satisfactory, and if the vaccinators continue to do good work, and at
the same time keep a vigilant eye upon inoculators, with such a deterrent punishment as the
above, inoculation will cease altogether. The action taken by the Darbár was so prompt and
decisive that I think it deserves to be brought prominently to the notice of Government.
Dispensary Vaccination.
15. Compared with last year's results the dispensary returns show an increase in the
amount of work, as also in the percentage of success, and
this would lead one to suppose that the state of vaccina-
tion at dispensaries was satisfactory. It is necessary, however, to take into consideration the
returns of each dispensary separately, and to look to the monthly work of each. Several
returns show an average of eight operations per month—that is, two operations at a sitting. As
a consequence of this, there are frequent breaks and frequent applications for supplies of lymph.
Excluding municipal towns there are 21 dispensary towns having an aggregate population
of 219,631 souls, who are left to the care of dispensary officers for protection by vaccination.
Since the paying system is introduced in dispensaries, there are, I believe, so few cases coming
for treatment that every dispensary officer can now command ample time to devote to vac-
cination. But I have noticed that there is still much apathy in them to do this work ; and,
considering that there is a similar or even greater amount of indifference among people of
the larger towns, it is no wonder that a large number of children remain unvaccinated, and
fall victims to small-pox during epidemic seasons, as was the case in this Circle during the
closing months of the year under report.
Native States Vaccine Establish-
ments.
16. The reorganization scheme of the vaccine establishments of Pálanpur and Mahí
Kánthá States, of which mention was made in previous re-
ports, is still under the consideration of the Political Officers.
Though nothing, officially, has been communicated to me,
yet I believe in the Pálanpur Superintendency the chief difficulty lies in obtaining the con-