NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
21
Jumkhundee .........................
Humnoor .........................
Kunputtee .........................
Goddahal .........................
Vacci-
nated.
54
......
2
......
Unvacci-
nated.
62
......
......
......
Small-
Pox.
48
29
8
......
Remarks.
None Vaccinated.
from which I must conclude the state of vaccination to be very unsatisfactory. I
represented this to Major Westropp, the Assistant Political Agent, and attributed
the defective vaccine arrangements to the following causes :—1st, the want of some active
supervision over the vaccinator ; 2nd, the non-testing of the returns of the vaccinator;
3rd, the want of village registers ; and 4th, the village officers not assisting the vaccina-
tor. I recommended that the vaccinator should be directed to forward me a verifica-
tion return under the signatures of the village officers monthly, and that he should be
directed to work more regularly. Major Westropp brought the subject to the notice of
the Chief, who, I believe, however is unwilling to place the vaccinator more under my
control, or permit him to forward his returns in a fuller form than he has hitherto done.
The total number vaccinated by him monthly is only stated. From thence I travelled
to Moodhole, and inspected the vaccinator's old and recent work in several villages.
In some it was fair, but in others bad, and he has not been doing nearly as much work
as he should do. He is very careless and lazy, and I have had occasion to fine and
reprimand him several times. I informed him on my departure that unless he improved
I should recommend his dismissal. I next proceeded to the Uthnee talooka of the
Belgaum Collectorate, and en route visited the town of Fezdul of the Sanglee State,
where no vaccination either there or in the surrounding villages had been done for
many years. I brought this to the notice of the Assistant Political Agent (in
whose district it is), who pointed out to the Chief the desirability of directing his
vaccinator to proceed there at the earliest opportunity. The villages around Belgaum
belonging to the Sanglee State are mostly vaccinated by the Government vaccinators,
as the Chief's vaccinator rarely visits them. I next met the Uthnee Municipal
vaccinator at Uthnee, and inspected his work there and in other villages, with
which I was quite satisfied. A vaccinator has only been working in this talooka
for about 18 months, and already much of the opposition and apathy that
was at first evinced is steadily disappearing. In one village two natives threatened
to beat the vaccinator if he proceeded to vaccinate. This was brought to the
notice of the Mamlutdar, who very properly fined them. Another instance occurred
just before my arrival of two persons of the village of Ajoor intimidating the
vaccinator, so that he was afraid to commence work. I had these men sent
for, but though I remained several days at Uthnee they had not arrived up to the
date of my departure. The Mamlutdar however subsequently informed me that he
23
most places my directions were attended to I have reason to believe that he did so.
Certainly during this season's tour I have had much less trouble in this way than I
have usually met with. I also informed the Assistant Political Agent at his request
of the probable dates on which I might be expected at the different Jagheer States,
and he very kindly gave notice to the Kharbarrees, so that on my arrival I had much
less difficulty than formerly in making arrangements for seeing villages and meeting
with the vaccinators.
WESTERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Surgeon
H. J. BLANC, M.D.
Establishment.—15
Vaccinators under Government, 2 under Municipalities, 10
under Local Funds, 2 under Native States, and 1 Station Vaccinator.
Population, 1,694,868.—Total cost Rs. 18,792. Average cost of each successful
vaccination and re-vaccination, 5 annas and 5 pies.
Establishment.
Government .............
Municipalities .......
Local Funds .......
Native States ........
Dispensaries ..........
Years.
1869-70...
1870-71...
1869-70...
1870-71...
1869-70...
1870-71...
1869-70...
1870-71...
1869-70...
1870-71...
Total vac-
cinated and
re-vacci-
nated.
35,904
36,984
1,178*
1,168
2,355
33*
......
13,023
646*
8,021
4,883
270*
2,934
2,612
142*
Compared with
the preceding year.
Increase.
......
2,258
......
1,220
......
13,669
......
......
......
Decrease
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
2,868
......
...... 180
Successful-
ly vacci-
nated and
re-vacci-
nated.
34,752
35,367
873*
1,096
2,179
9*
......
11,671
391*
7,476
4,450
178*
2,273
2,159
97*
Percentage of suc-
cess, excluding
unknown, in
Primary
vaccina-
tions.
96.7
97.8
......
92.2
94.9
......
......
95.7
......
93.2
92.5
......
......
84.9
......
Re-vacci-
nations.
......
......
79.3
......
......
27.2
......
......
71.9
......
......
66.6
79.3
......
70.3
General Progress.
In submitting my report on vaccination for the official year 1870-71, I have the
pleasure of being able to show a very considerable increase over the preceding year.
After deducting 2,868 for decrease in the Native States'
vaccination, the present increase exceeds the number of
operations performed during the season of 1869-70 by 14,099. If again the year
* Indicates re-vaccinations.
9 vac
24
under report be compared with the year 1868, it will be seen that the progress of
vaccination in this Circle has been very satisfactory, and that the number of operations
has increased from 38,133 to 59,372. 57,245 primary vaccinations performed during
a year in a population said to be about 1,690,000, or even, as I believe, more correctly
about 2,000,000, is, I deem, a highly satisfactory result, one hardly obtained in Euro-
pean countries, and one which I have much pleasure in recording.
Increase.
2. The increase is due principally to the employment of Local Fund vaccinators,
but not entirely to that cause, as we have an increase also in
both the Government and Municipal establishments. In
1869-70 the working staff of this Circle was 186/11, that is to say, eighteen men were
employed vaccinating during twelve months and one during eight ; in 1870-71 the staff
is represented by 23 6/12, or twenty-three working vaccinators during twelve months
and one during eight. It will be seen by these figures that I have been working this
year with a staff somewhat below the sanctioned strength. The following causes in-
fluenced the temporary reduction of the staff below the authorized strength:
(a). The difficulty in finding suitable persons for the ten appointments I was
suddenly called upon to make in the Local Funds' Vaccination Establishment; they
were only gradually filled up, and two vacancies still exist in that establishment.
(b). Much sickness among the vaccinators, specially among those employed in
the Tanna collectorate, due to malarious influence.
(c). Sick and privilege leave granted to several vaccinators.
(d).
Dismissal of two vaccinators.
(e). The station vaccinator of Rutnagherry was included in my establishment
only since 1st of March last.
(f).
Sickness and resignation of the Native State vaccinator of Johar.
It is apparent, as I have already mentioned, that the present increase is not entirely
due to the employment of Local Funds' vaccinators, and I feel pleased to be able to
record that, with few exceptions, the vaccinators employed in this Circle have done their
very best, and that the annual returns which I have the honour to submit herewith,
speak very favourably of the endeavours and industry of all.
Decrease.
3. There is a decrease in the Native States' vaccination, but this does not affect
the progress of vaccination in those States; it is merely a
passing and temporary decrease brought on by exceptional
circumstances. The vaccinator employed by the Native State of Johar was reported
sick in the beginning of July last; he was sent to the Tanna hospital, where he
remained several weeks very seriously ill from an attack of remittent fever. On his
recovery he positively declined to return to Johar, and another vaccinator was
appointed in his stead. This man a few weeks afterwards also resigned his appoint-
ment ; he disliked the place, he was afraid to take his family there, and, as he
informed me, he preferred poverty in Bombay, to dwell alone in the wild malarious
27
of Vaccination should also be informed, so that he might direct the district vaccina-
tor to accompany or send to the Dispensary a few healthy children bearing good
vesicles, from which the work should be begun. It was recommended that not less
than fifteen or twenty children should be vaccinated at one sitting; this average being
necessary in order to maintain a supply of good lymph, from which alone vaccination
should be performed. I expected that by adopting this plan a higher percentage
of successful cases would be obtained, and that it would prove satisfactory, both in its
working and in its results, to the Medical Officers themselves and to the people under
their care. Nor have my expectations been deceived: those who have followed cor-
rectly and entirely my suggestions, have done good and creditable work. Mr. DeSouza
at Bandora, Mr. Munday at Vingorla, have both worked well; but foremost of all, I
would place Mr. Dunjeebhoy, in charge of the Callian Dispensary, who has worked
the new system with much intelligence and zeal, and who was able in consequence to
show an increase of operations from 43 in 1869-70, to 109, in 1870-71 whilst, at
the same time, his percentage of success rose from 80 to 96.2.
Lymph.
8. During November and December the lymph was reported bad in many
talookas. I believe that the climate of the Konkan after
the rains is very unfavourable to vaccine lymph.
Good
lymph was repeatedly forwarded to the vaccinators who had complained of theirs, and
by the middle of January it was everywhere reported good. I saw some very good
vesicles occasionally ; others somewhat inferior owing to their very rapid development
and the purulent tendency of the lymph. As a rule, however, seventh day vesicles
contained good lymph, and gave very fair results.
Cicatrices.
9. 1 have taken notes of the character of cicatrices and vesicles in some 9,000
cases. I will give the result of my observation in the
following tabular statement: —
Cicatrices
Vesicles
Total ...............
Very good.
2,308
68
2,376
Good.
4,155
97
4,252
Indifferent either
in number
or quality.
1,198
73
1,271
Indifferent both
in number and
quality.
438
41
479
Bad.
226
31
257
Sores.
83
2
85
The total of unsuccessful cases is 678, which added to the total in the above Tabular
Statement, gives a grand total of 9,398. If from this number we deduct 85 for sores,
which should be considered in this case as " unknown," we obtain a percentage of
success equal to 93.5 ; and again, if we consider the " 257 bad" as unsuccessful, the
percentage of success would be 90.8. This is far from being a low percentage. No
doubt in England, Marsan, Tomkin, or Ceely can boast of more, but taking all unfa-
28
vourable circumstances into account, the difficulties of so many kinds our Native
vaccinators have constantly to contend with, and I maintain that a real and probably
permanent successful result, equal to 90 per cent. of operations performed, is very
good indeed.
Small-pox.
10. Outbreaks of small-pox were frequently reported to me as having occurred
in the Rutnagherry. Districts. Whenever possible I went
myself to the locality and very often found no small-pox
at all, simply chicken-pox or a few isolated sporadic cases. In some places small-pox
existed, but it was of a very mild character, and I believe that much exaggeration
exists on this point. I have not succeeded in obtaining small-pox returns from
Rutnagherry, but if they are not more valuable than those received from the Tanna
and Colaba collectorates, sanitary science does not lose much by their absence.
Inoculation.
11. Inoculation is frequently practised in the Rutnagherry Districts. When the
presence of an inoculator in a talooka is reported to me I
at once bring the matter to the notice of the Civil author-
ities, who manage to drive him away from the locality ; but he generally turns up
again elsewhere before long. It seems difficult to put a check to inoculation as long
as the law is helpless in prosecuting inoculators and whilst the people of this country
are favourably disposed towards it.
General progress of Vac¬
cination.
12. Altogether the condition and progress of vaccination in this Circle may
be deemed very satisfactory; patience, time, and good
vaccination will decide the few wavering that may remain,
but, as I have already mentioned, nearly 60,000 operations
among a population of about 2,000,000 is quite as much as we are entitled to expect
anywhere. There are a few localities in this Circle where vaccination is not received
with the same favour as it generally meets with; the causes may be many, and I
propose next season devoting myself to overcome the apathy or resistance which is
complained of, notably in parts of the Bhewndy talooka, in some localities in Salsette,
and in a few of the seaport towns. I have frequently gained over whole fishermen
villages, whose inhabitants had proved most obstinate to the voice of the vaccinator,
but who gave in at once when the subject was placed before them in a sensible manner,
and when they saw that there was no coercion, but simply a laudable desire on the
part of the Government to protect the lives of the people of India against fatal and
dreadful diseases, they resisted no longer but cheerfully consented to receive the
vaccinator and promised to afford him every assistance. I have no doubt that a similar
result will also be obtained in the localities I have just mentioned, although it may
require both time and perseverance for us to win over the more bigoted of the popula-
tion.
Conduct of the Vaccinators.
13. One vaccinator, Babajee Yadew was reduced to assistant vaccinator, on account
of his dissipated habits ; he is a bad bargain and never will
do much good in the service, and another man, Assistant
30
Aid from Civil Authori-
ties acknowledged.
17. The Civil authorities have always and on every occasion afforded me their
very valuable support, and doubtless it is to the interest
taken in our work by Civil Officers of all grades that we
owe our good progress, and it is again to their support that I look to for overcoming
any prejudice that may still exist in a few localities.
NORTHERN CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Muncherjee Byramjee Colah, M.D.
Establishment.—35 Vaccinators under Government, 7 under Municipalities, 14
under Native Chiefs, and 22 Dispensaries.
Population 2,892,520.—Total cost Rs. 22,215 ; average cost of each successful
vaccination 4 annas and 3 pies.
Establishment.
Years.
1869-70 ...
1870-71 ...
1869-70 ...
1870-71 ...
1869-70 ...
1870-71 ...
1869-70 ...
1870-71 ...
Total
vaccinated.
70,273
63,190
6,874
9,111
22,734
21,453
6,437
4,453
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
2,237
Decrease
7,083
1,281
1,984
Success-
fully vacci-
nated.
65,228
56,022
2,721
8,316
20,964
19,471
5,559
3,G83
Percentage of suc-
cess, excluding
those unknown, in
Primary
vaccina-
tions.
96.9
953
97.6
96.9
95.8
95.5
89.7
90.7
Re-vacci-
nations.
80.4
85.8
840
58.3
General progress of Vac-
cination.
Decrease.
With reference to the above summary of work, it is necessary to state that in this
year's returns are incorporated in the Municipal esta-
blishment, the work of the two Municipal vaccinators of
Ahmedabad, and 8 months of the Municipal vaccinator of
Broach, and in the Dispensary establishment the work of
all the Government vaccinators working under the Civil Surgeons. Taking the result
as a whole the work amounts to 98,207, whereas the last year's total was 106,318,
showing a decrease of 8,111. It may, however, be fairly stated that the progress of
vaccination in this circle during the past year has been satisfactory. There is a large
decrease in the work performed by the Government establishment. There were a
few stoppages in work on account of sickness among
vaccinators, and deterioration and loss of lymph, but these
were not such as to justify me in attributing the large decrease to such causes which
occur to more or less extent every year, nor can the decrease be said to be owing to
33
Vaccinators cautioned to
do good work rather than
too much of it.
3. During the year under report the attention of all vaccinators has been fre-
quently drawn to the great necessity of doing good work only. Circulars were issued,
enjoining them to perform every vaccination most carefully, to use the utmost caution
in the selection of really good lymph, to charge their lances afresh for each puncture,
and carefully to insert a good quantity of lymph on each
occasion, and never to attempt making two or three or more
punctures from one charge of the lancet. In case their
lymph was spoiled, they were directed at once to report the same unhesitatingly, to stop
work, and not to continue for a single day the use of such lymph ; and all have been
distinctly informed that in case, on inspection of their work, it was found that these
instructions were disobeyed and bad work performed, then they would be dismissed
from the service.
Columns of age and re-
sult to be carefully filled in.
4. The importance of all vaccination statistics depends not only upon the cor-
rectness of the numbers vaccinated, but upon the precision
with which the ages and results of the vaccinations are
recorded. As regards numbers the returns of this circle
can be mainly relied upon. Since the last two years a modification has been adopted in
the method of filling up the columns of age and result. Instead of the usual way of
filling up columns with 1, the column " under 1 year" is now filled with the exact
number of months of the age of the child up to 12, and the column " above 1 year "
is filled with the exact number of years similarly. As regards noting the result, the
column of "successful" is filled up with the exact number of vesicles developed.
Experience of the past two years enables me to state that this method has induced
among the vaccinators a great deal of accuracy of observation, and the inspection-
results show that the returns of almost all are in the main correct. A careless and
indifferent man is easily detected at the time of examination, and is adequately punished.
Vaccination
introduced
into the Native State of
Bansda.
5. In para. 9 of last report mention was made of the introduction of vaccination
into Dhurmpoor, and I have now the pleasure to report that
mainly through the exertions of Mr. Hope, the agent to
the Governor, vaccination is now introduced into the neigh-
bouring state of Bansda.
Municipal Vaccination.
6. It also affords me much satisfaction to report that during the year under
review I have succeeded in getting a few of the Munici-
palities of Guzerat to employ their own vaccinators. When
my last report was submitted there were only four Municipal vaccinators in the whole
of Guzerat; this number is now increased to seven. After repeated representations
the Dhundooka municipality agreed to entertain a vaccinator and one was engaged
and has been working since July 1870. And I am glad to report that the
Neriad municipality has also sanctioned an annual expenditure of Rs. 300 for a
vacccinator.
38
Aid given by Revenue and
Political Officers acknow-
ledged.
13. Much valuable assistance has been received by the
department from all the Revenue and Political Officers, for
which I cannot close my report without expressing my best
thanks.
SIND CIRCLE.
Superintendent.—Assistant
Surgeon J. WILLIAMS, M.D.
Establishment.—17
Vaccinators under Government, 4 under Municipalities, 13
under Local Funds, 1 under a Native Chief, and 20 Dispensaries.
Population 1,745,000. Total cost, Rs. 23,833. Average cost of each successful
vaccination, 5 annas 2 pies.
Establishment.
Government ................
Municipalities
..........
Local Funds .............
Native Chiefs
Dispensaries ..............
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
1869-70
1870-71
1869-70
1870-71
1869-70
1870-71
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
38,179
48,599
784
1,065
22,981
30,466
1,260
1,757
10,304
9,376
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
10,420
......
281
......
7,485
......
497
......
......
Decrease.
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
923
Success-
fully vacci-
nated.
36,681
43,374
707
955
22,085
28,298
1,235
1,454
9,413
8,378
Percentage
of success,
excluding
those un-
known.
98.
95.
93.3
95.
99.1
95.
100.
86.
93.
93.
In the course of the year 1870-71, the Superintendent of Vaccination in Sind
travelled over 4,372 miles. 36,699 vaccinated and unvaccinated persons were inspected
in 518 villages, 23 schools, and 12 dispensaries. The expenses are greater than in the
preceding year on account of the Superintendent being ordered to Guadur to further
vaccination in Beloochistan, and to Bombay to learn the method of practising animal
vaccination.
The foregoing remarks are by Dr. Roche who took over charge from Dr.
Williams. Before Dr. Williams went home, on the 10th March, he left the following
remarks on record in the office.
General progress.
Vaccination has progressed favourably in Sind during the past year. In the hot
season there was considerable sickness amongst the vaccina-
tors, the result probably of exhaustion by malaria in the
previous season; but the men have worked so well since the cold season set in, that