10
THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
dispensaries, (3) the supply of vaccinators to the several municipalities within
the metropolitan circles which applied for their service, and (4) in one case
(already mentioned) the sending of a man for employment in Dacca.
Employment
of
vaccinators in
dispensaries.
Objected to.
2. The employment of Vaccinators in dispensaries during the non-working
season.—In accordance with the orders of Government the vaccinators of the
metropolitan circles were sent to the several dispensaries within the limits of
the said circles, in the first place to act as compounders and dressers, and sub-
sequently as compounders only. Such employment was most distasteful to the
majority of the men ; they nearly all evaded the order for a time, getting out of
the way and reporting themselves sick. Some correspondence ensued between
myself and the Inspector-General of Hospitals, and the men who could not prove
themselves sick by medical certificate, were fined ; some positively refused to
act as dressers, as it was against their caste, the men of the department being
all high caste men, and the order directing them to act as dressers was with-
drawn ; but even to work as compounders was distasteful, as they consider it a
menial employment.
Orders modified.
Subsequently a further modification of the original order was issued,
granting leave of absence to one-half of the men employed in this department.
Some of the men performed the duties assigned to them to the satisfaction of
the officers in charge of the dispensaries, others seem to have merely remained
idle at the dispensaries to which they were sent, their services not being
required; in others they performed them indifferently.
In the first circle, out of 22 vaccinators, 17 joined the dispensaries, and 5
were prevented by sickness. Five men have since left the department owing
to their being so employed.
In the second circle, also of 22 men, one deserted rather than join the dispen-
sary ; 2 remained at home reporting sickness, of which however they never
gave sufficient proof; 3 were sick; 16 joined the dispensaries. Of these 16, 2
were permanently lost to the vaccine department, for, having gained a smattering
of medical knowledge, they have set up as private practitioners in their native
villages.
In the third circle, of 22 men, 19 joined the dispensaries, 2 were
kept back by sickness, and 1 obtained leave owing to the severe illness of his
father.
Disadvantages of
the system.
I consider that the employment of vaccinators in dispensaries has done
harm to the department; some of the harm done has been already pointed out,
for it is difficult to repair the loss of well-trained and skilled vaccinators. Then,
the transfer of the vaccinators to another service under another master,
weakened the hold of the Deputy Superintendents and myself on the men; they
were less amenable to discipline than before, and the majority of the men were
rendered discontented.
Further, the theoretical instruction which has hitherto been imparted by
the Deputy Superintendents during the recess to the vaccinators who required
it, specially to new recruits, is interrupted by their employment at dispensaries.
*******
Particulars of em-
ployment of vac-
cinators
The men are employed for about eight months in the year in this depart-
ment. In September they commence looking over the district assigned to
them, fixing on a good point to commence operations and preparing the minds
of the people to accept vaccination. From October to March they are busily
engaged in vaccination. In April they have to verify the results of the operations
performed late in March, write up their registers, and generally wind up the
season's work. There are but four months left, and as a considerable number of
the vaccinators must be kept within call in order to proceed to any part where
small-pox is prevalent, each man would not get more than two months' leave in
the year, which does not appear to me too much, considering that during the
remainder of the year he has no fixed home but wanders about from place to
place, and considering further that the Bengalis are so much attached to their
homes that it is difficult to induce them to leave them.