Extract from the Proceedings of the Resident at Hyderabad, No. 2294-R., dated
Hyderabad Residency, 20th August 1888.
Read-
Report upon Vaccination in the Hyderabad Assigned Districts for the year 1887-88.
RESOLUTION.
Considerable progress was effected in the year under report in almost every
direction. The total number of operations performed was higher than that of the
previous year, as was the average number performed by each operator. An
improvement was also effected in the percentages of successful cases; the figures
being 96.5 per cent. in primary operations and 45.4 in re-vaccinations, against
96.2 and 19.4 respectively in the preceding year. The figures would be very
satisfactory if they could be relied upon; but it is noted that Dr. Little himself
throws doubts on some of the percentages, and this to some extent discredits the
entire return. In re-vaccinations, in which the province has hitherto been con-
spicuously backward, the increase is remarkable, and it is gratifying to learn from,
paragraph 2 of his report that the subject has Dr. Little's full attention. The
misconduct of the vaccinator Dilawar Khan, reported in paragraph 3, is how-
ever much to be regretted, as a single occurrence of the kind, especially among a
simple rural community like the Kurkus, spreads distrust and aversion to a degree
that will take years of careful and competent work to eradicate. It may be hoped
that Dilawar Khan was replaced by a more carefully selected operator. The falling
off in dispensary vaccination is also to be regretted, but this is what might be
expected from the generally inefficient management of these institutions already
commented on in the Dispensary Report.
2. Dr. Little does not explain the system of operations adopted, but appa-
rently both in the Melghat and the other districts the vaccinators go from village
to village distributing their work equally over the whole area entrusted to them.
Where, however, vaccination has been most successful, it has been effected by con-
centrating operations and thereby giving complete immunity from small-pox to a
particular locality, which thus stands out, especially in seasons of epidemic, in
notable contrast with the surrounding towns and villages and so ensures repute
and confidence in the prophylactic. This was Dr. Pearson's very successful system
in Rohilkhund in the North West Provinces, and Dr. Little might consider
whether at the beginning or end of the working season it would not be possible
to concentrate operations in a specially selected town or village in, each, district
without detriment to the rest of the area in each charge.
3. It cannot be regarded as satisfactory that the inspections of the Civil
Surgeons of all the districts (except that of Basim) were quite inadequate,
and to this laxity no doubt the falling off in the work done at the dispensaries
was due. A similar neglect of duty was noticed in 1886-87, and the Officiating
Resident desires that the Sanitary Commissioner will obtain specific explanations
on the subject from the Civil Surgeons of Buldana, Ellichpur, Akola, and Amraoti,
while in the current year he should at once take practical measures to see that
a proper amount of inspection work by Civil Surgeons is carried out.
4. The Officiating Resident has pleasure in sanctioning the rewards pro-
posed for Raoji Govind, Sher Mahomed, and Raoji Vishnu, and is gratified to
observe that Govind and Vishnu earned the Sanitary Commissioner's commend-
ations in the previous year. The thanks of the Officiating Resident are due
to Dr. Little for the improvement in the results exhibited by his department in
the year under review.
(By order.)
G. S. FORBES,
Secretary for Berar.
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