14
RANCHEE CIRCLE.
9. The population of the Darjeeling circle of superintendence is at present estimated
at 2,997,298. The successful vaccinations during the year 1869-70 were 73.743 (sic), so that
to protect all the people with the present establishment would occupy 40.64 years. A large
deduction, however, would require to be made from this on account of the numbers already
inoculated, or who have been the subjects of small-pox. Any calculation as to this number,
however, would rest on such a basis of conjecture that I declined making it, to avoid
originating incorrect ideas of the amount of work remaining to be accomplished by the
department. Still it will be evident that the present vaccine establishment is insufficient for
the complete protection of the people, but that it has done much in a few years to popularize
vaccination, and may in the end induce the people to pay for it as they do at present for
inoculation.
Report of the Ranchee Circle of Vaccination by ASSISTANT SURGEON J. J. WOOD, M.B., Superin-
tendent, for the year ending 31st March 1870.
THE total number of persons vaccinated is 19,101, showing, as compared with last year,
an increase of 11,197 cases. The percentage successful is also higher. The following is an
account of the year's work.
2. On the 1st September I took over charge of this circle from assistant surgeon
E. J. Hoskins, M.D. A new native superintendent, who had been sent from Allahabad by
Dr. Watson, Superintendent of Vaccination, was appointed by Dr. Hoskins in July 1869.
Some changes were also made among the vaccinators.
3. In November operations were begun in two of the four districts, viz., in Loharduggah
and Hazareebaugh. In Loharduggah were two parties under two native superintendents,
Elahee Bux and Mukhun Loll; the third, native superintendent Mahomed Ishak, with his
party, were placed at Hazareebaugh. I was by this disposition able to set two parties going
under my own direct observation, and, by beginning upon the high land of the Chota Nagpore
plateau, to ensure better results during the comparatively warm weather of November.
4. In the beginning of December, when work had fairly commenced, native superin-
tendent Mukhun Loll and his party were sent to Maunbhoom district, which is off the plateau,
and the Loharduggah party were directed to move southwards, so as to be able to send
vaccinators into Chyebassa district when required.
5. I was aware while making this distribution that it would render my duty more
difficult, but the native superintendents were well-trained men, and two of them had been
found trustworthy and good workers by my predecessor. During the season I visited each
of the working parties twice, staying a considerable time with each and verifying the work
done in my absence. There did not appear to be such unwillingness on the part of the
villagers to allow the vaccinated children to be inspected as there had been in previous years.
6. I.—Loharduggah.—The two parties which began work in the Loharduggah district
commenced on the 2nd November in the vicinity of Lodhma, a village 12 miles south of
Ranchee. The lymph employed was supplied from Calcutta and from Almorah, some of the
former being that issued by the Privy Council. All the supplies succeeded fairly, but in the
beginning of the season the percentage of failures was very high even in the hands of
the best vaccinators. Some tubes of lymph, mixed with salt and water, which were sent by
Dr. Charles, did very well.
7. The inhabitants of this part of the circle are for the most part Coles. A few were
found who objected to vaccination; but in these cases it was the zemindar who prevented
their coming forward. Inoculators used in former times to visit the villages in Loharduggah
and Chyebassa, but for three years in some cases, and seven in others, no inoculators had visited
them. The inoculators were Brahmins, and came from district Maunbhoom, which is eastward
from Loharduggah.
8. After the party destined for Maunbhoom had left, the party under Elahee Bux
extended their operations southwards, and by the close of the season had overtaken work in
301 villages and vaccinated 9,592 persons. One vaccinator was dismissed for inefficiency in
November, and another man, who has since proved a good vaccinator, appointed in his place.
9. In March two vaccinators of this party were despatched to Tamar, a town 30 miles
to the south-east of Ranchi, small-pox having been reported prevalent in that quarter. It
was found that four inoculators from Maunbhoom district had been plying their trade near
Tamar, and had inoculated about 200 persons, of whom 12 died. The vaccinators worked in
two large villages where the inoculators had been practising, and the people came readily