NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
80
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
296
463
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
167
Decrease.
......
......
Successfully
Vaccinated.
275
453
Percentage of
success.
95.8
97.8
The total number vaccinated during 1870-71 was 463, viz. 253 males and 210
females, of which 243 were under one year, and 220 above one year old. 453 proved
successful and 10 unsuccessful, giving a percentage of successful cases of 97.8. Vacci-
nation has been performed in my presence by the Native Medical Pupil attached to the
Civil Hospital. The population of the Town is upwards of 10,000, not including 300
Civil Establishment and 166 Native Police. The only cost is for two lancets, found by
Government. There is an increase of 167 in the number vaccinated, compared with
the preceding year.
2. The lymph has been good throughout the year.
3. Improvement might be made if the children could be collected at an ap-
pointed place in the town.
4. No small-pox occurred during the year.
5. In consequence of instructions received, vaccination was persevered in during
the months of December 1870, January and part of February 1871 ; all the children
that could be found unprotected were vaccinated at their dwellings, except the Banians,
who positively decline to submit to it.
All appear to be of opinion that re-vaccination is not necessary.
SURAT.
One Government Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon H. J. GANE.
Population 90,000. Total cost Rs. 328. Average cost of each successful vacci-
nation, 3 annas and 9 pies.
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
1,680
1,602
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
......
Decrease.
......
78
Successfully
Vaccinated.
1,523
1,371
Percentage of
success.
96.7
94.9
81
1,602 persons were vaccinated during the past year, being a decrease of 78 as
compared with the previous year. No re-vaccination has taken place.
There is great difficulty in collecting children for vaccination, particularly amongst
the Parsees.
Animal vaccination was carried out by Dr. Colah during the month of October,
afterwards by Sub-Assistant Surgeon Dossabhoy ; but it was obliged to be abandoned
for the want of funds.
There is one great drawback to the carrying out of animal vaccination which I
fear will not easily be overcome. I allude to the difficulty in procuring children for
vaccination in the early morning. Mothers cannot be persuaded to bring their children
at an early hour. I hope, however, when Dr. Colah returns to Surat that he will
continue his experiments on animal vaccination, and with greater success. I learnt
from Sub-Assistant Surgeon Dossabhoy that a few cases of small-pox had occurred in
the City during the past month, but no cases have come under my observation.
Vaccination has been carried on during the past year by the vaccinator under my
immediate supervision, and I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the satisfactory
way in which he has conducted his duties.
AHMEDABAD.
Two Municipal Vaccinators under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon Major D. WYLLIE,
M.D.
Population 150,000.
Total cost Rs. 552. Average cost of each successful
vaccination, 1 anna and 9 pies.
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
4,047
5,429
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
1,382
Decrease.
......
......
Successfully
Vaccinated.
3,881
5,007
Percentage
of success.
96.8
96.7*
89.4†
* Primary Vaccinations.
† Re-vaccinations.
The total number of vaccine operations was 5,429, being an increase of 1,382 as
compared with the previous year. This result is entirely due to the introduction of
re-vaccination, which commenced from the date of last return.
82
The primary vaccinations numbered 3,527 and re-vaccinations 1,902. Classed by
sex the primary vaccinations were 1,829 males and 1,698 females, 2,211 being under
one year and 1,366 over that age. The ratio of successful cases was 96.7 per cent, as
against 96.9 in the previous year.
Of the re-vaccinations aggregating 1,902, the ages ranged from 4 to 35 years, the
majority however being under puberty. Full half (1,125) were males. As respects
results, 89.4 per cent. were returned as successful, and while most presented perfect
vesicles, others for obvious reasons were modified, and some doubtless spurious.
Fresh lymph was introduced at the beginning of the year, and it has continued
active and good throughout, the resulting vesicles, especially in primary cases, being well
formed and distinctive, and with very rare exceptions corresponding to the number of
lymph insertions made, ordinarily three in each arm. The cicatrices also have pre-
sented characteristic foveation.
Both vaccinators have conducted their duties satisfactorily. They are steady,
industrious, painstaking men, and I am glad to mention that within the past few weeks
they have had an incentive to additional exertion in an increase of pay, from rupees
12 to 20 each, granted by the liberality of the Municipality. One performed 2,728
vaccinations, and the other 2,701. The largest number of operations was in May when
they aggregated 555, the least in November when they fell to 402.
There was no small-pox throughout the year to give a stimulus to vaccination,
nor on the other hand was there any infantile epidemic to delay progress up to the
commencement of last month, when cases of measles and hooping-cough began to
appear, and the former ailment is now widely prevalent.
Animal vaccination was begun here by Dr. Colah in November last, and thereafter
carried on by Mr. Sub-Assistant Surgeon Ruttonjee Hormusjee, whose account of his
proceedings I beg herewith to forward. Although the utmost care and attention
were taken to ensure success, the experiments nevertheless resulted unfavourably. In
this, however, there are no grounds for regret, as animal vaccination, with its many
uncertainties and drawbacks, could never be advantageously employed in the case of
a community already enjoying the benefits of an efficient system of arm-to-arm vac-
cination, nor ever be necessary where an abundance of humanized lymph is at all times
available, as there has been in this city for the past 20 years.
Mr. Ruttonjee, as will be seen, operated on 202 children, and 47 of the number
completely failed, 41 in transferring lymph from the animals, and 6 in transmission
from child to child. The vesicles were at first very small and few, one or at most two,
resulting from six insertions. In these respects, however, they gradually improved
after several transmissions, although to the last their appearance was spurious, and
maturation premature, the edges ill-defined and the central depressions indistinct. The
cicatrices were equally unsatisfactory. In three-fourths of the number examined, the
surface was perfectly smooth, without the slightest trace of any depression ; while in
83
the remainder there were here and there some slightly foveolated,but only very partially
and imperfectly at most. I do not consider that any of these children are protected,
and concur with Mr. Ruttonjee that all must be revaccinated.
This experience I trust will be accepted as conclusive of the inutility of animal
lymph, at least as regards this city, believing as I do, that any further experiments in
the same direction would probably give rise to distrust, and thus prove detrimental to
the interests of legitimate vaccination.
REMARKS on a few experiments made on the subject of Animal Vaccination by Sub¬
Assistant Surgeon RUTTONJEE HORMUSJEE, in Medical charge Baicherdass Dis¬
pensary in Ahmedabad.
This subject was commenced at the request of Dr. Muncherjee Byramjee Colah,
Superintendent of Vaccination, Northern Circle, who handed over to me an inoculated
heifer on the 12th November 1870. From this date up to the 12th February 1871,
thirteen heifers have been inoculated. The lymph was supplied once by Dr. Mun-
cherjee himself, twice by Dr. Blanc, and twice by Mr. Anunta Chundroba of Bombay.
When lymph was transferred from one heifer to another, it was invariably done on
the 6th day after the operation. Mostly valvular punctures were made, but a few
incisions were also tried. The short experience I lately had on the subject seems to
show that the former are to be preferred to the latter.
2. I would next give a summary of the results. From the 12th November to
the 7th December 1870, six heifers were inoculated, one after another, under the hope
that by passing the lymph through a succession of calves the success of the process
might be ensured. The result however was different. The first four heifers took the
inoculation very well, especially the 3rd and the 4th, but in the fifth, the vesicles were
small and few in number. In the sixth the failure was complete ; only a few of the
punctures were elevated into so many small pimples and nothing more. It would thus
seem that the lymph, first used on the 12th November, lost its effects gradually by
passing through the bodies of six heifers, and here may be said to be the end of the
first series of experiments. The lymph was lost, and nothing further could be done
until a fresh supply of lymph was obtained from Bombay.
3. But as just mentioned, the 3rd and the 4th heifers took the inoculation very
well; well marked and large vesicles were obtained. Opportunity, therefore, was for
the first time taken to vaccinate some children with the lymph of these heifers.
Between the 27th November and the 2nd December 1870 twenty-five children were
vaccinated. But all these proved failures without an exception, as will be seen in the
appended table. It may therefore be inferred that the lymph was good enough to
bring out vesicles on the heifers, but when transferred to the human subject, its good-
ness failed.
84
4. On the 27th December 1870, Mr. Anunta Chundroba kindly forwarded
twelve tubes charged with heifer-lymph. The next day a heifer was procured and the
lymph used in twelve punctures, all of which failed.
5. On the 8th January 1871 Dr. Blanc forwarded to me twelve ivory points.
This lymph also failed. But the same Officer sent to me six more tubes on the 14th
idem, and this succeeded very well on a heifer. On the 6th day the lymph of this
heifer was transferred to another heifer and this succeeded most admirably. On the
25th January therefore an opportunity was taken to vaccinate some children. Ten
children were vaccinated ; of these three succeeded and seven failed.
6. But from the last successful heifer another was inoculated on the 25th and
from it another on the 31st January. That of the 25th was a partial success, but the
last one was a failure. Here again the lymph seems to have lost its effects by passing
through the bodies of five heifers, although on the third heifer the result was quite
successful.
7. On the 7th February Mr. Anunta Chundroba sent me a second supply of
lymph in six tubes. The lymph of these as well as some other which I had myself
collected from a previous successful heifer, was used on a fresh heifer, but the result
was not successful; very few really good vesicles rose, from which three children were
vaccinated with success on the 12th February.
8. It will thus be seen from the above account, or from the appended table, that
up to the 12th February 1871 fifty-three children were vaccinated directly by the
heifer lymph; of these twelve proved successful, at all events vesicles formed, which
were somewhat inferior to the ordinary Jennerian vesicle, as more particularly stated
below.
9. At this stage an idea occurred to me that the lymph of these somewhat infe-
rior vesicles might improve by passing successively through the bodies of several
children, and with this view the lymph, which was obtained from the arms of the
twelve children, alloded to in the last paragraph, was propagated till about the 25th
March 1871, when it was found that from the 12th November 1870, the date of the
commencement of these experiments, up to the last operation with the new lymph, 202
children had been vaccinated. Of these 47 were failures and the rest (155 cases)
succeeded in so far as vesicles resulted, but they were not typical. They matured on
the 7th day instead of the 8th day ; thus they were one day too early in maturing.
Besides this, when the scabs fell off, the resulting cicatrices were found to be perfectly
smooth, with a few rare exceptions in which depression was present.
10. Hence on comparing the appearances of the vesicle produced by the new
lymph with those resulting from the current human lymph, there was no doubt left as
to the inferiority of the former ; the latter invariably producing well developed Jennerian
vesicles with the characteristic depressed cicatrix. For the above reasons, further
vaccine operations with the new lymph have been put a stop to. Hence also arises
the necessity of re-vaccinating all the two hundred and two children alluded to in the
last paragraph, with the old or current human lymph.
85
11. The attached is a table showing the dates on which vaccinations were per-
formed on children, with their results. It is taken from the registers of the two
Municipal vaccinators, in whose monthly returns these vaccinations were included.
TABLE showing the number of Vaccinations performed with animal lymph in the
Baicherdass Dispensary, Ahmedabad.
Dates on which Vaccinations were
performed.
27th November ...................
28th
Ditto
2nd December ............
25th January
............
31st
Ditto
............
1st February 1871
5th Ditto ............
7th
Ditto
............
12th
Ditto
............
13th
Ditto
............
14th
Ditto
............
18th
Ditto
............
19th Ditto ............
20th
Ditto
............
21st
Ditto
............
24th
Ditto
............
25th
Ditto
............
26th
Ditto
............
27th
Ditto
............
28th
Ditto
............
3rd March 1871
............
4th Ditto ............
5th Ditto ............
6th Ditto ............
7th Ditto ............
10th Ditto ............
11th
Ditto
............
12th Ditto ............
13th Ditto ............
14th
Ditto ............
17th Ditto ............
18th Ditto ............
19th Ditto ............
20th Ditto ............
Total ......
Total
Vaccinated.
11
4
10
10
7
2
4
2
3
3
2
1
4
5
3
1
2
11
8
4
3
4
19
9
5
2
10
11
11
5
1
4
13
8
202
Number of
Vesicles
that rose.
......
......
......
3
2
2
......
2
3
2
2
1
4
5
3
1
2
11
8
3
3
4
19
9
5
2
10
9
9
5
1
4
13
8
155
Failed.
11
4
10
7
5
......
4
......
......
1
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
1
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
2
2
......
......
......
......
......
47
Total.
11
4
10
10
7
2
4
2
3
3
2
1
4
5
3
1
9
11
8
4
3
4
19
9
5
2
10
11
11
5
1
4
13
8
202
86
GODRA.
Operations performed by Sub-Assistant Surgeon SARUPLAL BALLUCKRAM, in
charge Dispensary.
Population
No cost.
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
"Vaccinated.
......
116
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
116
Decrease.
......
......
Successfully
Vaccinated.
......
94
Percentage
of success.
......
84.
In furnishing this brief report of vaccination for the last six months, I have the
honour to state that 115 persons were primarily vaccinated in all; of these 95 were suc-
cessful, 18 unsuccessful or doubtful, and of two nothing is known. The percentage of
successful cases excluding those unknown from the total was 84 in primary vaccina-
tions. There was only one case of re-vaccination, and that was successful. The
Dispensary has been opened only lately. I have often heard mothers complaining that
they do not want to have their children vaccinated during the hot season; and for
this they give a peculiar explanation, that children vaccinated in this season suffer
generally from small-pox. From my short experience I can say that the people on
the whole understand the benefits of vaccination, and bring their children for vac-
cination very willingly. The Bhoras—who are included amongst the Mohamedans,
and forming a pretty large portion of the population, have a great objection to bring
their children for vaccination to the Dispensary, and this is simply because their women
cannot go out of doors. If the Patel of this place, who collects children for vaccina-
tion, were to exert his influence a little more than what he does at present, the number
of vaccinated children would be increased. The state of lymph was as a rule good.
In a few cases in the month of December, vaccination was practised from a heifer
inoculated with human lymph, but all these cases proved unsuccessful. No cases of
small-pox occurred during the period under report.
DHOOLIA.
One Municipal Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon G. BAIN-
BRIDGE.
Population 11,267. Total cost Rs. 264. Average cost of each successful vac-
cination 5 annas and 4 pies.
87
Years.
1869-70 ............
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
996
796
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
......
Decreasc.
......
200
Successfully
Vaccinated.
895
793
Percentage
of success.
98.9
99.8
There has been a considerable decrease in the number of vaccinations performed
during the past year. I thinkhowever that this is only temporary, and is attributable
to the absence of the usual number of subjects in the town owing to the fact of few
children having been left unvaccinated whose parents were willing to submit them for
operation. The number may probably rise again during the next year. Vaccination
has been carried on without intermission twice every week from arm-to-arm ; the supply
of lymph has therefore been quite regular. Its quality has been excellent, and its
resulting vesicles every thing that could be desired, with few exceptions. I have not
noticed any signs of degeneration of our lymph, which produces most excellent vesicles
in subjects with fair skins, especially if the weather be favourable. It is creditable to
the vaccinator that he has maintained an uninterrupted supply of lymph in two sets
of vaccinated subjects every week without receiving any from other places.
2. The village officials have given proper assistance to the vaccinator since my
last report.
3. I believe that a large number of Brahmin and Marwaree children are
unvaccinated. No amount of persuasion will induce some of these people to submit
their children for operation. I have little doubt that, were an epidemic of small-pox
to occur in the place, many children of the classes mentioned would be attacked.
4. The vaccinator has been paid by the Municipality during the year.
5. Only one case of small-pox has occurred in the town so far as I am aware ;
there has certainly been no epidemic.
AHMEDNUGGUR.
One Government Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon H. T. DANN, B.A.
Population 40,000. Total cost Rs
Average cost of each succesful vac-
cination
annas and
pies.
17 vac
88
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
1,045
1,100
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
55
Decrease.
......
......
Successfully
Vaccinated.
978
1,001
Percentage
of success.
93.6
96.
I have much pleasure in bringing before you the present vaccination report,
showing as it does an increase in the actual vaccination of 1870-71 over that of the
previous year. The numbers stand respectively 1,045 and 1,100, being an increase of
55 operations, and also in 1869-70 only 219 were vaccinated in the camp and canton-
ment against 251, being an increase of 32. The largest number of vaccinations were
made in the months of March, May and August, the latter showing 106. The results
were, successful 1,001, unsuccessful 73, unknown 26. No small-pox has occurred
during the past year.
KOTREE.
One Municipal Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon J. ROCHE,
M.D.
Population 20,626. Total cost Rs. 268. Average cost of each successful vacci-
nation 5 annas and 8 pies.
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
784
1,065
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
279
Decrease.
......
......
Successfully
Vaccinated.
707
955
Percentage
of success.
93.2
95.2
There is an increase in the number vaccinated in the past year, as compared with
the preceding, of 279. Vaccination has progressed favourably, and has only been
objected to by some Cutchees and Parsees. Their reasons are that small-pox is one
of the means of punishment used, and especially presided over by Sitla Mata, the female
spouse of Sheva Devi, or Mahadev, hence the names Sitla and Matha. I will take the
liberty of introducing here a few remarks on animal vaccination. There are some
89
Hindoos who consider lymph analagous to milk, a secretion, and will be delighted to
have cow-lymph inserted in their skin as a conservative against small-pox. The
majority and all the higher caste Hindoos look on lymph as modified or altered blood,
and not only will refuse to have that of the cow introduced into their bodies, but will
use all their influence to have animal vaccination discontinued if it be introduced, lest
the lymph from the arm of a child, which they would not otherwise object to, may be
related to that from the cow.
2. The lymph throughout the year has been good.
3. I am not aware that any improvement can be made, and I am informed
that already influential members of the Hindoo community of Hydrabad and Kotree
have been deliberating to petition against the introduction of animal vaccination.
KURRACHEE.
One Government Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon N.
HOPKINS.
Population 100,000. Total cost Rs. 313, of which Rs. 180 was paid by Govern-
ment and the rest by the Municipality. Average cost of each successful vaccination
2 annas.
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
3,933
2,765
Compared with the
preceeding year.
Increase.
......
......
Decrease.
......
1,168
Successfully
Vaccinated.
3,422
2,405
Percentage
of success.
91.9
94.8
This year's returns contrast very unfavourably with the last year's. The decrease
is due to the former vaccinator (who had for many years worked very satisfactorily)
neglecting his work, and which ultimately compelled me to have him discharged from
the Service for misconduct. The present vaccinator appears to be anxious to give
satisfaction, but the number vaccinated is far below the last year's, but I hope that as he
gets more used to the people, he will be able to show an improvement in this respect.
2. Small-pox was prevalent for three months in this year.
90
ADEN.
One Government Vaccinator under the Civil Surgeon, Surgeon R. W. JAMES,
M.D.
Population 25,000. Total cost Rs. 216. Average cost of each successful vacci-
nation 5 annas and 11 pies.
Years.
1869-70
1870-71
Total
Vaccinated.
844
691
Compared with the
preceding year.
Increase.
......
......
Decrease.
......
153
Successfully
Vaccinated.
692
582
Percentage
of success.
81.9
84.2
There has been a decrease during the year in the total number vaccinated, and in
consequence the cost of each vaccination is increased by nearly 5 pies. No slaves were
brought to Aden by Her Majesty's Steamers, and as small-pox ceased during the month
of May, the two great causes of the increase during the preceding two years were want-
ing.
During a short time in May the supply of lymph failed, but the Superintendent
Medical Department afforded me some in tubes lately received by him from England;
it turned out very good, and to this cause I attribute a successful percentage of 84.2.
TABLES
OF
VACCINATION RETURNS, &c.,
FOR
1870-71.