10
THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
The gossains of Khurdah and the gooroos of Bhatparrah, notwithstanding having seen the
benefits of vaccination when practised in their neighbourhood year after year, obstinately
refused to take the prophylactic heretofore. However it affords me a great satisfaction to report
that after several meetings amongst themselves, and arguments with me and others who
could enlighten them on the superior efficacy of vaccination over inoculation as a preventive
of small-pox, they have given in; but I am sorry to say that as they consented to have their
children vaccinated on the very eve of our working season, I could not protect them to a man,
as I wished."
34. The following extracts from the report of Deputy Superintendent Ram Soonder
Ghose possess great interest:—
"There was a singular case at Gheedah, the infected village near Barrackpore, in
thannah Nawabgunge, which requires prominent notice. In a Mahomedan's house a boy
aged seven years was vaccinated in November, the points of insertion giving rise to healthy
and well-formed vesicles. On the sixth day twenty children were vaccinated with the virus taken
from that boy, and they all proved successful; but the poor boy who supplied this virus got
high fever on the night of the sixth day. On the ninth day variolous eruptions broke out, which
assumed a virulent form, and carried him off on the ninth day from the breaking out of the
eruptions and seventeen days after vaccination. It is curious that none of the twenty boys
vaccinated with such infected virus got small-pox; they passed a regular course and perfectly
resisted the influence of the malady. Upon five or six persons who were successfully vac-
cinated irregularly-shaped vesicular eruptions with central depressions broke out all over the
body on the tenth or eleventh day, which required no medicine."
35. Behaviour of the establishment.—In conclusion, I have to report most favorably
of the three deputy superintendents.
Baboo Jadub Chunder Ghose has again placed his circle first with regard to numbers,
and I consider it very creditable that he has such a large number, considering that there
was at first much opposition shewn, and that the country allotted to him was overrun with
epidemic fever. I can only attribute it to his untiring zeal and energy.
Baboo Buddynath Brummo comes next in numbers. He modestly refers it to the
yielding character of the people; much, however, is owing to his constant care and vigi-
lance. He is most painstaking and careful.
Baboo Ramsoonder Ghose has been engaged in a district where vaccination has been
previously performed, and where inoculation is very frequently practised. The number of
unprotected was not therefore so large as in some other districts. Then he was met in
greater force by the inoculators, who succeeded in carrying off some of the people. He
has, however, done his duty well, and I consider him a very energetic and useful Govern-
ment servant.
36. The head vaccinators and ordinary vaccinators have, as a rule, performed their
several duties well. In another part of this report I have mentioned that two were
dismissed for being absent without leave, but usually I found them doing their work
well and intelligently.
37. The vaccination has been of a high character; the percentage of success very
high, whether taken from the general returns or from the numbers personally examined
by me, and this depends much on the assiduity of the head vaccinators and their care
and discrimination in choosing the vesicles from which virus is to be taken. The whole
of the vaccinations have been performed directly from arm to arm.
38. The Registers kept by the vaccinators—I have found, as a rule, accurately kept;
occasionally the names are not properly spelt. Indeed, there is great difficulty in expressing
Mussulman names in Bengalee letters; but a little care enabled me to identify the child.
At one place I found two cases, which had not been seen, and which were failures, reported
as successful; but this was the only mistake of importance, and was corrected by me at once.
Report of the Darjeeling Circle of Vaccination by ASSISTANT SURGEON R. LIDDERDALE, M.D.,
Superintendent, for the year ending 31st March 1870.
2. HAVING assumed charge of the office of the Superintendent of Vaccination of the
Darjeeling circle early in the month of November 1869, I was obliged to proceed at once
to the plains to commence the work of inspection. My knowledge therefore of the work in the
hills during the hot season of 1869 is derived from the returns, but it appears satisfactory.