38
SONTHAL PERGUNNAHS.
Stamped out by vac-
cination.
In the two others a few cases were seen, but the number of deaths could not be
ascertained. The people in these three villages consisted chiefly of Hindus
and Mussulmans, who had all along strenuously opposed vaccination, and it
was with the greatest difficulty that I could introduce vaccination into the
two former, the last one (Burhait) obstinately resisting to the last. The inocu-
lators who had come from some other districts, and whom I had intended
if possible to enlist on our side, fled the moment they received intimation of
our approach. Small-pox quickly disappeared as soon as vaccination was
established around the infected localities. In the beginning of May 1871
two more places were infected by small-pox, viz. Kanklatea, a populous
bazaar near Sahibgunge, and Dolowee, a village near Teenpahar; three deaths
were reported in the former, and one in the latter. The people of the
former, consisting chiefly of tradesmen from different districts, had obstinate
prejudices against vaccination, and had all along resisted our efforts. On the
appearance of small-pox, besides going in person, I had sent two vaccinators
in succession, but to no effect. I then took with me the best one of my staff and
succeeded in winning over a portion of the Mahomedan section of the population,
but the heat of the weather interfering seriously with the results of our oper-
ations, we were compelled to withdraw. The disease, however, did not spread
afterwards. In Dolowee vaccination was completely established and the small-
pox stamped out.
Chicken-pox mis-
taken for small-
pox.
No more occurrences of the disease were heard of at the early part of the year;
but towards the end of the season, i.e., in March 1872, in compliance with the
instructions of the Assistant Commissioner, Rajmehal, I went to a village
called Burtolla, to the south-west of Bahawa, with the purpose of adopting
measures to prevent the spread of small-pox, which was said to be raging. I
found, however, that the cases that had occurred were cases of chicken-pox and
not small-pox. Fourteen persons were attacked, eleven of whom, chiefly adults,
had marks of inoculation which they had undergone many years ago, and
one, a child of eight or nine years of age, had marks of vaccination which he had
three years ago. In the latter the eruptions were of the simplest kind, and but
very few in number. All the cases had recovered when I saw them. But still
I made arrangements for vaccinating all the unprotected people of the village
and its neighbourhood. This was not done, however, as the inoculator, who was
vaccinating in the neighbourhood, as mentioned below, and on whom I
left instructions for protecting the village, fell ill and went away. This
occurrence of chicken-pox was attributed by the people to the prevalence of
vaccinia among cattle, many of which had died of the disease a month previous
to the outbreak.
In the latter end of March 1872 a Sonthalee village in the district of Pakour,
named Choto Sonakur, was reported to have been infected by small-pox. I
went there and found that two cases of a simple modified variety had occurred,
both the subjects of which had marks of inoculation on their arms. The cause
of this outbreak could not be ascertained, but it was found out upon inquiry
that small-pox had occurred as the result of inoculation in a village within a few
miles of Sonakur, upwards of a month ago, with which the latter had constant
intercourse. Vaccination was quickly and thoroughly established in Sonakur
and the disease prevented from making head. No more occurrences of small-
pox came to our notice during the year, and I had not therefore the opportunity
of giving a trial to the carbolic acid treatment as I was anxious of doing.
Instructing inocu-
lators.
9. I am happy to say that the instructions contained in circular memo-
randum No. 130, dated the 23rd November 1870, from the office of Inspector-
General of Hospitals, Indian Medical Department, have, though to a small
extent, been experimentally carried out this year.
Proceedings of a
converted inocu-
lator.
The Civil Surgeon of the Sonthal Pergunnahs was kind enough to send an
inoculator to me from Deoghur, with instructions how to encourage him to work.
This man arrived here by the end of January 1872, and wanted to vaccinate
amongst his clients in a certain portion of the Pakour district situate to the