REPORT.
xi
Character of the
work.
of Arrah, Curran of Gowhatty, MacLeod of Sarun, Stewart of Pooree, Briscoe
of Gowalparah, Connolly of Bancoorah, and Stork of Tipperah. The mode in
which this work is performed is generally very unsatisfactory. The vaccinators
are in most cases left to work very much as they please, to find subjects
in the station and surrounding villages as best they may ; their proceedings are
neither defined and directed, nor their work supervised as it ought to be.
The work done is generally desultory and haphazard, and seldom systematic or
exhaustive. In some stations an attempt has been made to procure systematic
and thorough work. This is most conspicuous in Dacca, Patna, Berhampore,
Pooree, Tipperah, and Mozufferpore.
Amount of work
done and success
obtained.
The number vaccinated by each man and the percentage of success are
again far below the results obtained by special establishments. In some
districts the outturn is meagre, e.g., Burdwan, Beerbhoom, Pubna, Cuttack,
Pooree, Balasore, and Gya, and in others the percentage of success is very
low, e.g., Jessore, Pubna, Cuttack, Cachar, Sylhet, and Gya.
Unsatisfactory na-
ture of proceed-
ings.
The districts and stations conspicuous for the amount of work done by
each man are Bancoorah, Hooghly, Howrah, Serampore, Patna, Shahabad,
Tirhoot, Backergunge, and Cachar; and those in which the percentage
of success is best, Midnapore, Serampore, Moorshedabad, Pooree, Dacca,
Noakholly, Kamroop, Seebsagor, Shillong, Patna, Durbungah, Bhaugulpore,
and Singbhoom. I must admit that I am not at all satisfied with the
results of dispensary vaccination, even though in some respects this is
an advance on former years. The amount of vaccination done in most
districts is a mere trifle in relation to what ought to be done, and what is
done is not so well done either as regards system or success as it should be.
Still it is of great importance to have at least one centre of vaccination and
one available vaccinator in each district. The success of local vaccination
must always greatly depend on the efforts of local officers, and also very
materially on the character of the men employed to vaccinate. With a
zealous civil surgeon obtaining aid and encouragement from the local civil
authorities, the sudder station should form a nucleus of systematic and complete
vaccination whence the work may gradually spread into the district.
Aid of civil autho-
rities necessary.
Sustained interest
in the subject de-
sirable.
I would here specially urge how necessary to the success of vaccination is
the moral support of the civil authorities. There can be no doubt that the
partial success which has attended the endeavours to convert inoculators has
been greatly owing to the interest which the orders issued by Government in
November 1870 has caused local officers to take in these men, and there is every
reason to hope that a continued or enhanced interest will carry this very pro-
mising movement to a successful issue. A fair commencement has been made,
and it would be fatal to the cause of vaccination were efforts to flag now.
The records of the year's proceedings do not show many instances of native
gentlemen of position and influence interesting themselves in a matter which
involves a great saving of human life, but non-official Europeans—planters
and missionaries—have in several instances given assistance. This element
might in some districts, as in Tirhoot and Cachar, be rendered of greater service
in promoting vaccination than heretofore.
Vaccination
in
Dacca.
The alternative of
inoculation
or
compulsory vac-
cination discuss-
ed.
39. Dr. Wise has given a most interesting sketch of the history of vaccin-
ation in the city of Dacca, which I have reproduced in extenso, and he brings
into full relief the difficulties experienced in conducting systematic or exhaust-
ive work. There can be no doubt that much prejudice exists against vaccin-
ation, more particularly in Eastern Bengal ; but that forms the very reason
why efforts to promote it should be unflagging. Dr. Wise's arguments would
lead to the conclusion that the people should either be left alone to practise
inoculation as they have done from time immemorial, or that a law of compul¬
sory vaccination should be enacted. If the alternative were a necessary one, I
should incline most unhesitatingly to declare for compulsory vaccination, which
does not infect nor kill, rather than permit a practice which does both, and
is not a more certain or permanent protection than good vaccination. Neither
alternative is, however, advisable I believe. If Government prohibits the