DARJEELING CIRCLE.
xxix
epidemic, and the Dinagepore vaccinators were left, for the time, without supervision. In
cases of emergency, and with a limited establishment, contingences of this kind cannot be
avoided, but it would be well if a Superintendent of Vaccination could be spared the necessity
of sending vaccinating parties to a distance from their own districts.
26. In this particular case, the proper Dinagepore work suffered; shortly after the native
superintendent had left for Purneah, a report reached me, when on tour in Rajshahye, through
the Medical Department, of small-pox in the Dinagepore District. The report did not specify
where in the district the disease had appeared, and in the absence of the native superintendent,
whose duty it is to keep me informed, and to take immediate steps in such a case, I was com-
pelled to address the District Superintendent of Police, and request him to send the necessary
order to the vaccinators working at the thannah nearest to the place where disease had
broken out.
27. I could learn nothing more on the subject, until I myself visited the Nawabgunge
Thannah in the Dinagepore District, where I expected to find the vaccinator whose post it was,
but the Police could tell me nothing of him, and reported that small-pox had been raging
in that part of the country for some time. Next day I found the vaccinator working in the
neighbouring illaqua of Chuntamin, which he said he was authorized by the native superin-
tendent to include in his operations, and it was not until after their long delay, that the
vaccinator was set to work in the place where his services were urgently required. I may
safely assume that this could not have happened, if the native superintendent were not out of
the district.
28. I myself met with a solitary case of modified small-pox of very mild type within
a few miles of the Hubbrah Thannah in the Dinagepore District; on the day I was inspect-
ing there, a man came to complain to the vaccinator that, although his child had been vaccinated
the previous year, she had taken small-pox ; I went to the village and saw the case ; she, as
well as all the other children in the village, bore excellent vaccine cicatrics. I could hear of
no other case of small-pox in the village or neighbourhood, and her father could not conjecture
how the disease had been communicated. There were but a few dozen pustules on her body,
and scarcely any attendant fever, and I was able to assure her father of her speedy recovery.
I pointed out to him at the same time, how different the disease would have been if she had
not been vaccinated. The vaccinator was directed to keep an eye upon the case and the village,
and report at once if the disease should spread, but, as I anticipated, no further report of small-
pox came to me from the place.
29. I have already alluded to reports of small-pox in Rungpore and Bograh Districts, but
as I had no opportunity of personal investigation, I cannot speak positively as to whether the
disease really occurred or not. Since the close of the working season, an outbreak of small-
pox at Rampore Beauleah was reported to me by the Civil Surgeon. I at once directed the
vaccinators to resume work, but there has not been time as yet for any report of their
proceedings.
30. The general arrangements for the season's work were the same as during the previous
year, so a recapitulation is needless. The Deputy Superintendent, Sub-Assistant Surgeon
Nilmoney Chowdry, has now had a fair share of experience and is a very efficient officer.
He is well qualified for the work of general inspection, and it would be an advantage, if he,
like the Superintendent, could be spared to travel throughout the circle ; but, in the dearth
of native superintendents, I have prefered that he should continue, during the season, in
charge of the work in the Terai and Western Doars, rather than that the vaccinators there
should be left for any length of time without supervision.
31. I have to express the same satisfaction as last year, with the way the native super-
intendents performed their duties. I can especially recommend one of them. He is in charge
of two Districts, Rajshahye and Bograh, and has, consequently, much heavier work in the way
of travelling (which circumstances compel him to perform on foot) than the others. I have
never met a more conscientious native servant of Government; he has, to my knowledge,
stuck to his work, travelling from post to post, when suffering from daily fever, and when, if
he chose to lie up, not the slightest blame could be attached to him for doing so.
32. No promotion in the department being possible for a man of his grade, I should be
very glad to be empowered to make an addition to his pay of ten rupees per mensem, as a
special case, in consideration of his heavier work and of the zeal he has displayed for the last
two years ; should this be more than can be sanctioned, I ask permission to grant him a
gratuity. There are abundant savings under the heading contingencies in the budget provision
for the establishment, from which either proposal can be met.
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