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objected to it, as they considered it a novelty and thought it would be against their caste preju-
dices. A few Hindu families in the Phalia tahsil did have their children vaccinated direct
from the calf, and I have no doubt, when the Hindus get more accustomed to seeing it done,
their scruples will be overcome."
Doctor Mulrony adds:—"I could not get the Hindu vaccinators to do it, as they
considered it contrary to their caste feelings." In that year only 2,289 vaccinations were
performed with animal, and 610,177 with human, lymph ; but in the year following the number
rose to 15,403, and year by year the number has gone on increasing till it has now reached
843,238, and may be said to have almost superseded human lymph in a period of nine years.
. 3. There were of course many obstacles and difficulties to be overcome. At first we
had to issue instructions to all Civil Surgeons that in those cases where parents refused to
allow their children to be vaccinated with calf lymph, the usual arm-to-arm method of vacci-
nation should be followed. On Civil Surgeons trying the experiment in their districts, they
experienced very great opposition from the people, and matters had gone so far that this
Department had at once to modifiy its first order and request Civil Surgeons to take no action
in the matter of animal lymph vaccination till they had consulted the Deputy Commissioners
of their districts regarding the manner in which it should be introduced. Similarly, Civil
Surgeons were requested to consult the committees of the different municipalities before they
introduced the system in the towns. In short, Civil Surgeons were requested to always ask
the advice and help of the district and municipal authorities before starting the innovation in
any particular town or village. Vaccination from animal lymph progressed slowly for the
first two or three years after its introduction, but when the matter was taken up by the Local
Government and by the Government of India, and highly commended, this Department lost
no time in at once informing Civil Surgeons that the method should be brought into more
general use, and they were even told that in the event of the vaccination work of any parti-
cular town or village having been done with human lymph, they were to report why animal
lymph had not been made use of.
4. In conclusion, I would remark that the, only way to overcome the prejudices of the
people against animal lymph vaccination is to enlist the sympathies and help of the members
of municipal committees, educated Hindu gentlemen, and high caste Hindus, but in all cases
nothing should be done without first consulting the Deputy Commissioner or Collector of the
district, for, unless he co-operates with the Civil Surgeon, no good can result from the indivi-
dual exertion of the medical officer. Such has been my experience, and I would further
observe that it is absolutely necessary for the medical officer to use the greatest tact in an
innovation of this kind. In the Punjab our medical officers have had to prove to the people—
(1) The advantages of animal over human vaccination.
(2) The inconvenience to parents and children of the " arm-to-arm " method of vacci-
nation.
(3) That there is no special severity in the vaccinations done in this way from the
buffalo calf, and lastly, that the calf does not suffer in any way by inoculation.
In all cases where members of Municipal Committees, lambardars of villages, and other
native gentlemen have rendered assistance in the cause of vaccination, this Department in most
cases presents them with sanads or complimentary parwanas, but when the services rendered
have been exceptional, the sanads are presented by Government. I have found this plan
work admirably in several districts where the people at first objected to the introduction of
animal lymph.
Circular No. 10, dated Lahore, the 30th August 1886.
From—SURGEON-MAJOR A. STEPHEN, M.A., M.B., Offg. Sanitary Commissioner,
Punjab,
To—All Civil Surgeons, Punjab.
IN continuation of this office Circular No. 8, dated 28th June 1886, regarding animal
lymph vaccination, I have to request that you will take no action in the matter till you have
consulted the Deputy Commissioner of your district regarding the manner in which vaccina-
tion with animal lymph should be introduced. It is possible that certain classes of the
inhabitants may at first object to the use of calf lymph, in which case it may be advisable to
restrict its use to certain parts of your district for the present, and the Deputy Commissioner
will be able to give valuable advice on this point.
2.- I have also to request that you will consult the Committees of the different muni-
cipalities of your district before you commence animal lymph vaccination in the different
municipal towns.
Circular No. 7, dated Lahore, the 1st September 1890.
From—SURGEON-MAJOR A. STEPHEN, M.A., M.B., Sanitary Commissioner, Punjab,
To—All Civil Surgeons, Punjab.
I HAVE the honour to invite your special attention to the remarks made in paragraph 10
of the Review of the Vaccination Report, for the year 1889-90, by His Honour the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, as well as to paragraphs 18 to 22 of the Report itself, on the subject of
animal lymph vaccination.
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