( 3 )
where the pinch of famine was much more felt than in other subdivisions,
was mainly responsible for this decrease."
Khulna.—Decrease of 6,213. Due chiefly to the general high prices of
food-grain and the presence of famine. Vaccinators being consequently unable
to realize fees, almost entirely suspended work in the famine-affected areas,
and it was only by the exercise of great pressure and the promise of some
compensation that they were got to work at all in these areas.
Rangpur.—Decrease of 1,429. Due to sickness among some of the
vaccinators and extortion on the part of others; also to the prevailing scarcity
of food, less money being available for vaccination.
Bogra.—Decrease of 1,921. Due to the transfer of thana Nawabganj
and portion of Adamdighi to the Rajshahi district; also to reluctance on the
part of the people in a year of scarcity like the present to pay for vaccina-
tion.
Pabna.—Decrease of 1,361. Due to a severe outbreak of malarial fever
in the whole district, which was specially fatal to children under five years of
age. Many of the vaccinators themselves fell ill, and some of them had to be
changed two or three times. There was a regular panic, and the people could
not be induced to accept and pay for vaccination.
Dacca.—Decrease of 10,047 attributed to the following causes:—
(1) Dearness of provisions and consequent disinclination to pay vaccina-
tion fees.
(2) A more extensive field of work among the Ferazi Mahomedans
during the previous year when whole villages were vaccinated,
which left less work to be done during the year under report.
(3) Transfer of some villages to the Faridpur district.
Mymensingh.—Decrease of 9,517. Due to there having been a severe
outbreak of small-pox in the previous year, when unusual steps were taken to
vaccinate a large number of unprotected persons in villages which were never
vaccinated before ; thus the figures of last year were abnormally high.
Faridpur.—Decrease of 15,677 which took place in the Madaripur sub-
division only, and is said to be due partly to scarcity in certain parts of the
subdivision. The decrease in 1896-97 is also due to the great stimulus given to
vaccination in the previous year by its introduction among the Ferazi Maho¬
medans, who had before that period resisted it altogether. The large numbers
vaccinated amongst this community in 1895-96 left less work for 1896-97.
Tippera.—Decrease of 15,469 attributed chiefly to the great difficulty
experienced by the vaccinators in realizing fees from the people. It is explained
that, for this reason, licensed vaccinators could not be got to work satisfactorily,
and that it was with difficulty that they were got to work at all.
Noakhali.—Decrease of 5,576. Due to scarcity and an epidemic of cholera.
Chittagong Hill Tracts.—The decrease here is only 21.
Saran.—Decrease of 20,642 attributed to famine and scarcity.
The
Civil Surgeon points out that, in a year like that under report, it is difficult for
the poorer classes to pay fees for vaccination, that many of them were abso-
lutely unable to do so, and that the vaccinating staff in consequence were
naturally less willing to work.
Muzaffarpur.—Decrease of 12,538. Due to scarcity throughout the
district.
Darbhanga.—Decrease of 11,397, which the Civil Surgeon points out, is
easily explained by the prevailing scarcity, which in many parts of the district
amounted to famine. As early as November and December complaints were
heard from the poorer classes, who said they could not afford to pay the cost
of vaccination, and a good many infants were in consequence not vaccinated;
but a much greater falling off in the work was anticipated than has actually
occurred.
Monghyr.—Decrease of 3,253. Due to the pressure of high prices upon the
poorer classes. It is true that there has been no real famine in the district, and,
indeed, not much scarcity; but an enormous export of food-grains from the
district took place in the last three months of 1896, and prices went up to a
level at which they might almost be called famine prices. When the prices
of food-grains stand so high, the poorer classes are hard pushed to get enough