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Brahmins, Bunnyas, and by Mussalmans engaged in trade. Many of them are intelli-
gent and well-informed, and most of them well-off. The houses are substantially
built, and an appearance of prosperity pervades the whole district. Here vaccination,
as a rule, is not accepted. What course of action should be adopted regarding the
inhabitants of the towns and the more enlightened natives—those whom our Vacci-
nators in their despair designate by the name of "takararee"—compulsory vacci-
nation certainly not with the present means at our disposal, indifferent lymph, and
ignorant Vaccinators,—we are not justified in forcing vaccination upon the people. I
see, however, no reason to despair, and with proper management the inhabitants of
the towns will, I feel confident, not only, most of them, accept vaccination, but even
claim it as a boon. On this point I can speak from personal experience. On my
tour I visited Tarrapoor, a wealthy town on the coast, and inhabited principally by
Brahmins and Parsees. For years no vaccination had been performed in that place ;
and as I intended to send a Vaccinator to that locality, I endeavoured to smooth the
way for him. I opened the question of vaccination with some of the most influential
natives, but met with no encouragement. I then proposed to inoculate a heifer with
cow-pox lymph, and from it vaccinate, myself, their children if they would promise
to bring me twenty-five. To this they agreed. On the appointed day only three or
four children made their appearance, and these the relations of a very intelligent Parsee
gentleman, Mr. Bhimjeebhai Eduljee, a resident of Tarrapoor, and to whom, for the
good example he gave, and the able assistance he afforded me throughout, I beg to
tender my best thanks. Although but few children had been brought, many of the
inhabitants had come to see what was going on ; and when they perceived that I really
did vaccinate from the heifer, and performed the operation myself, they all went to
fetch their children, and, instead of twenty-five, no less than fifty-four were brought to
me ; and so well was vaccination received that several children were brought for re-
vaccination. Still more came, but I was obliged to send them away, as, hardly believing
that even the promised twenty-five would be forthcoming, I had only made on the
heifer a limited number of punctures. Not long ago I received, through the Collector
of Tanna, a letter from the Mamlutdar of Mahim, requesting that a Vaccinator be sent
to Tarrapoor, as he had received applications for a Vaccinator from more than fifty of
the inhabitants of that town, who were desirous of having their children vaccinated.
9. The unwillingness on the part of the parents to allow lymph to be taken
from their children is a very serious drawback, one, unfortunately, under which not
only we, but all Vaccinators, labour under all climes and in all countries. Here per-
suasion has but little effect, and some other means must be adopted. For the present,
in this country, we have but two alternatives,—to pay or fine. Whilst in China I was
for a while placed in charge of a hospital for the reception of Chinese, and once a
week vaccination was performed there. The parents were obliged to leave a small
deposit, which they forfeited if they did not bring their children for inspection
on the eighth day, but it was given back to them if they came, whether lymph was
taken or not. Under certain circumstances the application of this system might be