ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
49
Inoculation.
6. Inoculation.—Inoculation has decidely decreased. Its prohibition in municipalities
has almost stopped it entirely.
Small-pox.
Small-pox.—Only one case of small-pox was reported during the year ; that occurred in
Moorshedabad I referred it to the Magistrate, inquiries were made, and as it was doubtful
whether it had not been a case of chicken-pox, which was then prevailing, no further action
was taken. Inquiry by the police did good, being a proof to the people that inoculation
cannot be practised with impunity.
Two
inoculators
trained.
7. Training inoculators —One inoculator was taught and employed in the Berhampore
dispensary and one in Kandhi ; both did well. They seem eager for such employment now
that their former occupation is gone.
Prevalence
of
small-pox
On the decrease.
8. Small-pox.—Small-pox has greatly decreased. A few years ago one heard of whole
villages being affected and even deserted by the survivors. Before leaving a village
for this cause they used to put a ring of burning shrubs round it, wash in the nearest
stream, and after a month begin a new village. Last year there were but 20 deaths reported
by the police from the 14 thannahs, and from among a population of 964,000. Though these
figures are not quite reliable, yet small-pox is such a disease that its occurrence in a family,
and especially a death from it, is rumoured far and wide. These statistics are therefore the
more to be depended on.
One thing is certain; fewer and fewer pitted faces and blind eyes from this cause are met
with every year. Where the disease occurred in Berhampore and in Kandhi and Azimgunge,
the people around not only permitted vaccination, but were glad to get vaccinated.
9. I regret I cannot submit reliable statistics on the amount of protection from small-
pox enjoyed by the people.
I will not lose sight of this point in my next report."
Vaccine census at
Jamoa Kandhi.
Sub-Assistant Surgeon Hury Narain Banerjee of the Kandhi dispensary
has given the following statistics carefully collected from an examination of the
Jamoa Kandhi lock-up, schools, village patshalas, police force, and a small
village, which will show the amount of protection enjoyed by the people.
Classes of persons
examined.
Hindoo...
...
Mussulman. ...
Total..
Number
examined
498
123
621
Inoculated
187
62
249
Per cent.
of total
examined
37.5
50.6
40.1
Vaccin-
ated.
153
25
178
Per cent
of total
examined
30.7
20.3
28.6
Had small-
pox
20
5
25
Per cent
of total
examined
4.0
4.0
4.0
Unprotec-
ted
138
31
169
Per cent.
of total
examined.
27.9
25.2
27.2
Dinagepore.
Vaccine census at
Rajshahye;
Dinagepore, Maldah, Rajshahye, Rungpore, Bograh.—These districts are
included in the Darjeeling vaccine circle, and particulars regarding vaccine
operations conducted in them will be found in Dr. Lidderdale's report (p. 21).
A few operations were performed at Maldah by the Civil Medical Officer and
his assistants. Dr. Bensley, Civil Surgeon of Rajshahye, gives the following
statistics regarding protection:—
Class of persons
examined.
Jail prisoners, Raj-
shahye
Number
examined.
760
Inocu-
lated
553
Per cent. of
total
examined.
72.7
Vaccin-
ated.
60
Per cent
of total
examined.
78
Had
small-pox.
69
Per cent.
of total
examined.
9
Unpro-
tected.
78
Per cent.
of total
examined.
10
13