21
without egotism I may be permitted to say that my presence contributed, somewhat,
towards the attainment of this progress. Village registers have been kept here for the first
time, and, considering the many difficulties attendant on their introduction, I have to report
most favourably of them, in every case where I had to examine the villages in which they
were kept. I do not think any inoculation has been carried on ; but I may state with regard
to this subject that I was forwarded, for perusal and comment, by the Collector, Mr. Elphin-
stone, a petition from a vakil of Dápulí requesting that some inoculators,on whom an embargo
had been placed might be allowed to carry on their practice. I wrote to the Collector at
some length, pointing out the danger attendant on such practice, and I have no doubt he has
acted on my suggestions in returning the vakil his answer.
Sáwantwádi Native State.
22. In the Native State of Sáwantwádí vaccination is more universally practised than
in any other district of this Circle. I visited the State in
the month of May, and got then ocular proof of the very
great progress it has made. This very satisfactory state of things may be attributed, in the
first instance, to the interest taken in the subject by the Political Superintendent, who spared
no pains to induce the general use of the operation, and now, I should say, from my own ob-
servation, to free acceptance of it by the people generally. The vaccinator meets with little or
no opposition, and the result is, that instead of time being wasted in arguing away nonsensical
prejudice, as often happens within the limit of British territory, it is all devoted to work.
The number of persons treated during the year was 6,528 as against 4,648 during 1871-72,
giving an increase of 1,880. The only fault I have to find with vaccination in this State is
that the number of infantile operations forms so small a percentage of the whole ; but here as
elsewhere there is immense difficulty met with in trying to induce the people to submit their
children for treatment during infancy.
Returns.
23. Examining the returns for the whole Circle, it will be found that of the total
number of primary vaccinations, or rather of persons
primarily vaccinated, viz., 65,934, 33,896, or 51.4 per cen-
tum, are males, and 32,038, or 48.6, are females, as against the percentages in 1871-72 of 51.7
and 48.3 respectively. Taking the different castes of the persons treated, the percentages they
give to the whole are Christians .9, Hindus 89.1, Musalmáns 4.2, Pársís .2, and out-castes 5.6;
while the percentages during the year 1871-72 were—Christians 1.9, Hindus 88.6, Musalmáns
2.9, Pársís .002, and out-castes 6.5. Thus it will be seen that there is a lessening of the use
of the operation amongst the Christians and out-castes, while there is an increase amongst
the Hindus, Musalmáns and Pársís. Not being in possession of the relative proportions the
different castes bear in the total population, I am unable to compute accurately the relative
favour vaccination receives amongst them; but I would observe that the increase in the Mu-
salmáns and Pársís is a good sign that the operation is being looked on with more favour by
these sects. The legal prohibition of inoculation would, I believe, be the means of throwing
into the hands of the vaccinators a great many more of the former sect than are at present
to be found on the returns. They and the Kolí castes are by far the most intractable of the
whole people we have to deal with, and in many cases I find a disposition on the part of the
vaccinators to fight shy of them. Of the relative ages of the persons treated, it will be found
that 15,119, or 23 per centum, were under one year, while 50,815, or 77 per centum, were over
one year. In the year 1871-72 these percentages stood at 23.05 and 76.95, respectively, thus
showing that this year, just closed, was a shade more unfavourable towards infantile opera-
tions than that preceding it. I make every effort myself, when making my inspections in the
villages, to impress on the people the great advantage of submitting their children for treat-
ment during infancy, and I also instruct the vaccinators, and Assistant Superintendents, to
lose no opportunity of following in the some strain. But, notwithstanding the strong opini-
ons I hold on the advantage of early vaccinations and every effort to carry them out, I have,
I regret to say, made as yet but little progress, as the sequel shows, in inducing the people to