ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
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The money thus expended can in my opinion be much more beneficially dealt with in
the manner to be detailed further on.
Public vaccinators
employed
to
supervise inocu-
lators.
The Midnapore vaccinators were employed during the greater part of the year in super-
vising the work of the inoculators who were instructed during the year 1870. Of the three thus
engaged, two worked remarkably well and did excellent service. The third, I regret to say,
although one of the best operators I have ever seen, failed altogether to perform the duty of
supervision and instruction. He utterly failed, and eventually, quarrelling seriously with his
pupils, I was obliged to withdraw him from this work altogether. He fell ill early in
December, and for many weeks was unable to work. Now from this man I expected much
assistance; he had worked as a vaccinator for nearly sixteen years in this district; some of
the best work I have ever seen was done by him during 1869 and 1870. He belongs, however,
to the Upper Provinces, is a man of hasty and violent temper, and although he is a Brahmin,
when brought in contact with the Bengali Brahmin ticcadars incessant quarrels resulted.
The most successful inspector is a man named Narain Chunder Banerjea, who worked as an
inoculator for many years in the town of Midnapore and the surrounding villages. Some
two years ago he applied to me for employment as a vaccinator, and after a few months
instruction became an excellent operator.
A Kulin Brahmin by caste, he was enabled to exert immense influence both amongst
the people and his brother inoculators, and it was chiefly through his representations that so
many inoculators came forward and agreed to learn vaccination.
The third inspecting vaccinator is a man named Subdut Misser. He worked for upwards
of 25 years as a vaccinator in Midnapore, and was obliged through ill-health to give up his
appointment two years ago.
He worked very well and displayed considerable tact and patience.
Personally I paid many visits to the vaccinators, and whenever any difficulty presented
itself I invariably went to the spot, and generally with satisfactory results.
Late commence¬
ment of work.
During the early part of the season much time was lost. The newly taught vaccinators
were anxious to put off work until February, the usual time when inoculation commences.
Why this special time is selected is simply due to the fact that February is a comparatively
idle time in the Bengali villages, the rice harvest being over, and the people have then
plenty of time to attend to domestic matters. I have found from personal experience that
the people are much more willing to accept vaccination during the latter part of January
and the month of February than at any other time, for the good reason, that they then have
plenty of time to look after their children.
The subjoined table shows the number vaccinated, the names and castes of the vaccin-
ators, &c.
The proportion of operations to the number employed is very small, but many difficulties
were encountered this year which I hope will not again appear.
Difficulties in re-
alizing
the
scheme.
Financially for the vaccinators it has not proved a success, but it must be borne in mind
that these men were working for the most part in villages where for years past the people
were vaccinated gratis, and they now find much difficulty in realizing their fees in conse-
quence. Again, the people object very often to allow lymph to be taken from the arms of
the children, and this circumstance has caused delay and doubtful vaccination.
These are drawbacks which time will remove.
Chowkidars
ob-
structive.
The village chowkidar has proved obstructive on more occasions than one.
This ill-paid functionary levied a small tax on the profits of the vaccinator, and when
that individual refused to pay up, the chowkidar went about amongst the villagers spreading
injurious reports, and on one occasion brought the work of the vaccinator to a stand-still.
The vaccinator came to me complaining that the village chowkidar had persuaded the
people that he, the vaccinator, knew nothing about his work; that the certificate he produced
was a forgery; and that, moreover, if he was allowed to take lymph from the arm of any of the
children he had operated on, the children would die or become idiotic.
I went to the spot, a large village, or more properly a cluster of villages, called Chuck
Gopeenathpore, about eight miles from Midnapore.
The vaccinator showed me some 80 cases that he had operated on some seven days pre-
viously, and he said that although there were at least 500 children waiting to be vaccinated,
he could not proceed owing to the machinations of the chowkidar, who, of course, denied ever
having said anything to the prejudice of the vaccinator.
A long argument ensued, but the result was that over 100 children were operated on
before I left the village, and subsequently matters were settled, except in one particular—the
unfortunate vaccinator was not paid.
Proceedings of the
inoculators un-
satisfactory.
I must confess to some amount of disappointment with the proceedings of these men. They
will not work regularly or systematically, and much time is lost in consequence. They find
great difficulty in getting their fees, and although the religious ceremonies usually carried
on in connection with inoculation are followed, yet their new profession does not pay as well
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