2
Local Funds.
3. In addition to the total increase above, a further increase must be credited to this
establishment, corresponding; to the total decrease shown
against Municipalities and Native States. The same result
is explained by the following figures :—
Establishment.
Government
Local Funds
...
...
...
Local Funds ... ... ...
Years.
1871-72
1872-73
Total persons
vaccinated.
19,531
61,460
80,991
93,560
Increase.
12,569
So favourable a result, I think, is mainly due. to the constant and careful supervision of
the Zilhà Assistant Superintendents of Vaccination, who are now in a position to keep their
vaccinators closely up to their work. I do not think much of the favourable result can be
attributed to any marked appreciation of vaccination by the people beyond that of former
years. Still it is satisfactory to have no backwardness, in this respect, to record. Short¬
comings are very often due to the want of that sympathy with the vaccinator which might
be shown by the various local authorities. It is not so much any active opposition that is to
be complained of, as a plainly passive indifference on the part of those who, from their local
influence, would be expected rather to lend an impetus to the work. If a Mámlatdár seem
to show little interest in a vaccinator's operations, Pátils and Kulkarnís are not slow to take
their cue from their immediate superior, and thus villages, perhaps a whole táluká, become
infected. In Nándgám Táluká. it was clearly evident to me, when traversing that portion
of Násik Zilhá, that the general feeling in the matter of vaccination was not as it ought to
be. The vaccinator, a willing but timorous lad, has repeatedly complained of the want of local
assistance, and although the Mámlatdár promised to give his assistance to the vaccinator,
when this backwardness was pointed out to him personally, yet no material improvement
is apparent from the vaccinator's returns.
Municipalities.
4. That there should be so great a decrease under this head is somewhat disappointing.
The towns which support vaccinators are generally large,
and require all a vaccinator's care and attention. I can
account for the decrease in no other way than from diminished energy on the part of these
vaccinators during the year, making due allowance for incidental sickness, leave, &c, among
them. Koregám Municipality reduced their vaccinator from the beginning of the official
year, and although some set off might be made on this account, it is to be noticed that a new
municipal appointment was made in Náráyangaum and Utur in Púná Zilhá from the same
date. These towns, if they may be called so, are not large, and the work of the vaccinator
since his entertainment is not very creditable. He is continually ailing, and, unless he shows
himself to be a more efficient worker, it will be necessary to supersede him. Municipal Com-
mittees, I think, could accomplish a great deal for their vaccinators by directly interesting
themselves in their work. Countenance in this way would tend to make the vaccinators
anxious to work well, and to deserve the confidence of those by whom they are supported.
Regarding the Dhúlía Municipality, it has been ruled by them, after protracted consideration,
that no peon shall be allowed to the vaccinator. This, I take leave to say, is something like
the penny-wise and-pound foolish principle. If vaccination is meant to be carried forward in