3
Chitral Sub-Agency and this is due to the fact that sanction to the entertain-
ment of two temporary vaccinators for a period of five months for employment
in the sub-agency was not communicated till the approach of winter. In the
Swat Valley 70 operations were performed but the figures have not been shown
in the Appendix to Statement No. I, owing to the annual returns having been
printed prior to the receipt of the prescribed returns from the Civil Surgeon,
Chakdara.
The following is an interesting extract taken from the Annual Report
on the Chakdara Civil Dispensary for the year 1907, to show the attempt that
was made by the Civil Surgeon to educate the natives of the valley in the
method of vaccination:—
" During the year, 70 people were vaccinated and of these 40 were done
in Thana at the request of the headman as there was an epidemic there in
Captain Hirst's time. He also made an attempt to instruct two natives in
the method of vaccination. One of these was the "Hereditary Vaccinator" of the
district who adopted the native method of inoculating small-pox virus direct
from an infected person, the other man was a volunteer. In Captain Hirst's
opinion an intrigue was made by the Hereditary Vaccinator against the other
man, because he thought the other would be made Government Vaccinator and
pressure was brought to bear on him and he gave it up. The Hereditary Vac-
cinator also shortly after gave it up as he was afraid that some how he would
be cheated out of his Hereditary due. The influence of the whole country is
against the institution of vaccination by Government methods and the opinion
of various jirgas was against it though the people themselves seem to be quite
keen on it as they come and bring their children to be vaccinated, though
this is often impossible to do owing to the fact that a stock of fresh lymph can
not be kept on the off chance of a case turning up. Captain Hirst reports that
the last heard of the Hereditary Vaccinator was that he had introduced an
epidemic of about one hundred cases of small-pox into a small village by his
Hereditary method." I do not think it advisable at present to press the
question of vaccination in any of the Agencies where the people do not
appreciate its advantages, as our intentions are only apt to be mis-interpreted.
Vaccination in cantonments.
Appendix to Statement No. I.
11. There has been a satisfactory increase in the number of persons
vaccinated in the Cantonments of Peshawar and
Nowshera which entertain their own vaccinators, the
figures being 2,467 and 1,237 against 1,757 and 755, respectively, in the previous
year and 1,777 and 685 in 1905-06.
At the other cantonments, where vaccinations are carried on by the
District Staff, the work for the triennial period on the whole has been satisfactory.
Cost of the Department.
Statement No. II.
12. The total cost of the department was Rs. 12,199 against Rs. 11,216
in the previous year and Rs. 11,643 in 1905-06, the
rise being due chiefly to (1) the addition of two
vaccinators to the staff of the Hazara District, (2) a larger number of transfers
on promotion among members of the vaccination staff in consequence of the
retirement, from the service, of the Senior Divisional Inspector during the year
under report and (3) the amount spent on contingencies being greater. The
highest expenditure on contingencies was incurred in the Hazara District
(Rs. 166-9-0) and the lowest in the Dera Ismail Khan (Rs. 8-7-0). Contingent
expenditure (Rs. 156-7-0) in the Bannu District was also very high and I am
taking steps to ascertain whether expenditure under this head cannot be con-
siderably reduced now that the supply of buffalo calves, for which payment has
had to be made in past years, will no longer be necessary.
It will be seen that the greater portion of the increase in the total
cost of the department has been borne by Local Bodies.
Cost per successful case.
13. The cost, per successful case, amounted to 2 annas and 3 pies
against 2 annas and 2 pies in the preceding year and
2 annas in 1905-06, the total number of successful
operations having been 84,884 against 83,501 and 92,311 in 1906-07 and
1905-06, respectively.