(17)
The result of calf vaccination has not been satisfactory, as the people in the mufassal
object and the vesicles dry up before their consent is obtained. Calf vaccination is intended for
places where a large number of children are obtainable, as in towns. A good calf is capable
of acting as vaccinifer to over 150 children, the village contains only smaller numbers and
transit from village to village involves great loss of time and drying up of vesicles. I am of
opinion calf vaccination will not prove successful and will be very expensive."
These reports are not encouraging, but it must be admitted that the experi-
ment has not had a fair trial, and it is clear from the reports received that very-
little interest seems to have been taken in the experiment. On the other hand
it is remarkable that in Dinajpur, the only district in which the trial seems to
have been conducted with any zeal, the result was not a failure. I place very-
little importance on the alleged objection of the people, which, as in other
provinces, can easily be overcome by the exercise of judicious persuasion on
the part of the local authorities, who ought to have very little difficulty in
convincing the people that, as a matter of fact, there is really no objection on
religious grounds to the calf being used as a vaccinifer. Caste prejudices are,
I understand, just as strong in the Punjab and Central Provinces as they
are in Bengal, but in the matter of direct calf vaccination they have, it would
appear from the annual reports of those Provinces, been completely overcome.
There is no reason why the same experience should not be ours. I would
therefore recommend that the experiment of direct calf vaccination be repeated
during the coming cold weather in selected parts of all the districts of the Presi-
dency, Burdwan, Rajshahi, Dacca and Chittagong Divisions, Civil Surgeons
being specially asked to give the trial a fair chance and their constant supervi-
sion. The working of the scheme should not be left entirely to the subordi-
nate staff, who chiefly to save themselves the trouble of extra labour attached
to an experiment are apt to report that it cannot work.
District Board vaccination.
16. A special report on the working of free vaccination as carried out
during the cold weather of 1893-94 by the District
Board of Puri, who granted Rs. 850 for the ex-
periment, has already been submitted for the consideration and orders of
Government with this office letter No. 21T., dated the 21st May 1894, in
which it was shown that as anticipated the experiment had given a remarkable
impetus to vaccination in the district of Puri, which has hitherto been the
most backward district in the Province in this respect, thus showing that it is
not to vaccination itself that the people object, but to the payment of vaccination fees.
So far, therefore, the scheme must be pronounced a complete success, but
whether it should be continued at the expense of the District Board, or at all,
is another question which requires serious consideration. Taking for granted
that vaccination is one of the objects to which the district fund may legitimate-
ly be applied, and assuming that it can be shown that man has a right to
be gratuitously vaccinated—is the district fund in all or in most districts in
such a condition as to be able to make sufficient donations for this purpose ?
These are questions for the Government to determine. As regards Puri I
would point out that, if the allotment is now withdrawn, there is little
doubt that next year the people who have seen vaccination free this year will
object more than ever to pay for it, and we must be prepared for very bad
results.
The only other district in which the District Board provided free vac-
cination during the year under report was Noakhali, where, in consequence
of a severe outbreak of small-pox during the recess, and the impossibility of
getting licensed vaccinators to work, the District Board authorities sanctioned
the employment at their expense of a few paid vaccinators to stamp out the
epidemic, which, together with the fact that they had not to pay for the opera-
tion, induced a great many persons, including many recalcitrant Ferazi Muham-
madans, to accept vaccination without any trouble.
Animal vaccine depôts.
17. The object of establishing these depôts was to reduce the system of
arm-to-arm vaccination as much as possible by sup-
plying Civil Surgeons and others responsible for vac-
cination with calf lymph preserved in lanoline; but owing to misunderstandings
on the part of the Civil Surgeons who indent very irregularly, and in some cases
c