Part II.]
VACCINATION IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES.
69
Female vaccinators.
Two female vaccinators worked at Gujrat for a short time, but their
work was miserable in the extreme, and they were discharged from employ-
ment.
Vaccination in
Pattiala.
His Highness the Maharaja of Pattiala entertained an establishment—a
superintendent, a deputy superintendent, and 14 vaccinators—on the same
plan as that of the province ; by this agency 10,207 cases were vaccinated, of
which 96.89 were successful. The Maharajah himself was present in person
on one or two occasions, and thus imparted a stimulus to the work, which
ensured success. All the authorities of the State rendered cordial and sincere
assistance.
Feeling of the people
towards vaccination.
In Native States.
The Superintendent-General is of opinion that vaccination has advanced a
stage in public estimation. The work has been done in a more satisfactory
manner, and many native gentlemen of position have voluntarily given
personal assistance. In Mooltan it has become a regular thing for children to
be vaccinated not long after birth. His Highness Hiru Chand of Kailur and
Bilaspur gave every assistance to the vaccinators sent to him. His Highness the
Rajah of Sirmur kept up vaccination in his State and gave valuable assistance
in having the people vaccinated. The evidences of opposition giving away are
in many places very marked.
District hakeems.
District hakeems were instructed by Dr. Bennett; some of them were
taken on to the permanent strength of the vaccine establishment, the remainder
were sent back to their ordinary duties at their dispensaries; but, owing to their
previous lazy, desultory, and independent manner of working, it is doubtful
whether they will ever prove efficient or trustworthy vaccinators
Vaccination in the
cities of Amritsur
and Peshawur.
To the report are appended accounts of vaccination in the cities of Amrit-
sur and Peshawur. The details are most interesting and reflect great credit
on Dr. Mackenzie and Assistant Surgeon Chaitan Shah. Both these officers
performed the cases themselves and inspected every one, so that fallacy in the
returns is impossible. Dr. Mackenzie acknowledges the ready assistance
given him by the native members of the municipal committee of Amritsur.
The greater part of the expenditure (Rs. 200) was incurred in paying
mothers (each of whom got one rupee) who brought children to vaccinate from.
All the native members of the committee brought their servants to assist and
provided sweetmeats for distribution. An examination was made of the
schools in the city, and it was found that in those in which there had been
no vaccination, that more than one-half, often two-thirds of the boys were
marked with small-pox. The total number of children vaccinated in Amritsur
was 8,674 at a cost of 6.64 pies per head. Dr. Mackenzie " looks forward to the
day when nearly every citizen in Amritsur may be seen free from the disfigura-
tion of-small-pox instead of two-thirds of its population blotched and blinded
with its scars."
Peshawur.
Assistant Surgeon Chaitan Shah's proceedings in Peshawur are a history of
tact and perseverance combined with a thorough knowledge of the native
character. Eight vaccinators were engaged by the municipality for six months
only. The assistant surgeon delivered lectures before the Peshawur literary
society on the subject of vaccination, and at the houses of respectable people, as
well as at musjids and dharumsalas. The most gross superstitions had to be
encountered and were met with admirable diplomacy; at first the Brahmins
and Bhaggats offered strenuous opposition, but when they found that the
children who had gone through the cow-pox came to the temples as before with
their usual presents, they withdrew, and were pleased with the collection of
comparatively large sums. Inoculation, too, is freely practised at Peshawur.
The assistance of the civil authorities was not sought, as the assistant surgeon
thought he could more judiciously deal with the temper of the people single-
handed. A total of 1,617 children were vaccinated at a cost of
Rs. 449-15-3.
The Government resolution expresses the satisfaction of the Lieutenant-
Governor at the general results of the year's working, and conveys His Honor's
thanks to Drs. Garden and Bennett.
VACCINATION IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES
Superintendent
General.
The Sanitary Commissioner, Surgeon-Major S. C. Townsend, filled also
the post of Superintendent-General of Vaccination.
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