DARJEELING CIRCLE.
xxvii
satisfied me that a smaller percentage than 10 or 12 of failures cannot be attained as a
general rule.
9. The operations were confined to the same districts as the previous year, namely,
Western Doars, Rungpore, Dinagepore, Bograh, and Rajshahye. "While the establishment re-
mains on so small a scale as at present, it is impossible to say when the other districts included
in my circle, and not as yet occupied, can be taken up. In truth, the vaccinators are
scattered over far too wide a tract of country, the result of a misapprehension from the very
commencement of the true limits of the Darjeeling vaccination circle. When I was made
aware, that I had taken up districts, such as Bograh and Rajshahye, which did not properly
belong to my circle, I thought it right to represent that it would be impolitic to abandon
them after two years' occupation and successful work, however much it might have been for
the Superintendent's convenience to do so, and the sanction of the Government was ultimately
obtained for their inclusion.
10. The important step was taken last year, in the withdrawal of all vaccinators from
the control of Civil Surgeons in those districts included in the Darjeeling Circle. The only
untoward result that I know of from the change is, that time has been lost in taking steps
to meet outbreaks of small-pox, which might have been saved if the Civil Surgeon had
vaccinators under his own orders. At present he can do nothing beyond make a report to his
departmental superior, and, as has happened during the season under review, weeks may
elapse before the intelligence reaches the Superintendent of Vaccination.
11. In remedy of this, I would suggest that Civil Surgeons in the districts comprised
in the Darjeeling Vaccination Circle, and Superintendents of Police, in addition to the reports
in such cases they are already directed to make, be instructed to address a brief report, men-
tioning the date and locality of the outbreak of small-pox, direct to the Superintendent of
Vaccination, Darjeeling. By this plan, the least possible amount of time would be lost.
I do not recommend that Civil Surgeons be empowered to give orders direct to such native
superintendents and vaccinators as may be stationed in their districts, for this would inevitably
lead to confusion.
12. With reference to reports of small-pox, there is one evil which it seems impossible
to provide against, namely, false alarms. A constable in charge of an outlying post hears
of an eruptive disease in a village in his neighbourhood, and at once reports it as small-pox;
in due time, notice reaches the Superintendent of Vaccination, and a vaccinating party is
despatched, who travel a distance of eighty miles perhaps, to find a few cases of measles. This
is what has just occurred in the Julpigoree District. Again early in March, I was informed
that small-pox was prevalent in the Terai, on hearing of it, I changed my plans and went
myself to the thannah and village where the disease was reported, and found four of the
inhabitants in measles. In the previous January also, official reports of small-pox had been
made from this thannah by the Police. One of the inmates of the house where the disease
was said to have been then existing, accompanied me to the village I visited, and declared
that the disease he there saw was the same, and afterwards went to his house, and saw all
who had been ill in January, and none bore a trace of small-pox. The characteristics of this
disease are so marked that one would fancy the most ignorant person could scarcely mis-
take it.
13. I can speak with confidence as to the marked improvement in the feelings of the
people on the subject of vaccination, not only at the points where the vaccinators are working,
but for considerable distances round. A vaccinator at Bograh, and another at Rungpore, was
summoned directly, by the inhabitants themselves, of villages distant respectively six and
twelve miles from the vaccinators' posts, to come and protect them, as small-pox had broken
out. The vaccinators complied, and according to their reports, the spread of the disease was at
once checked.
14. I mention these cases, not as examples of the stamping out of small-pox, for I
have learned to receive native reports of small-pox with great caution, but they may be
certainly taken as proof, that the people have begun to put faith in vaccination, for they must
have believed that the disease, whatever it was, was small-pox, and there was nothing to prevent
their having had recourse to inoculation if they pleased.
15. At another vaccinating station in the Rungpore District, an inoculator whom I
had trained and entertained as a vaccinator, but whom I had to dismiss for misconduct, made
an effort to thwart the vaccinator, and to resume his old practice, but the people would not
accept his services, and he soon left the place. As another illustration of the progress of
vaccination I may mention, that a petition was sent me, signed by many of the inhabitants
of Titalyah, praying that a vaccinator might be placed among them. It reached me too
late in the season to allow of my complying, but I had them informed in reply, that their
wishes should be acceded to next season. It is unquestionable that if the people here were