NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
Fourth Annual Report of the Metropolitan Circles of Vaccination for the year ending 31st
March 1872, by SURGEON FRANK POWELL, M.B., Superintendent.
Establishment.
Municipalities em-
ploying vaccin-
ators
1. Constitution of the Establishment.—The strength of the vaccine estab-
lishment of the three metropolitan circles during the past year was 1 Superin-
tendent; 3 Deputy Superintendents; 9 head vaccinators at Rs. 15; 57 ordinary
vaccinators at Rs. 10, entertained throughout the year and paid by Govern-
ment, besides 11 men at Rs. 10, paid by municipalities for various periods as
under—
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
By Nyehatty
union
„ Busseerhat
town
„ Baraset
union
„ Keduhatty
„
„ Bagjullah
„
„ Goberdangah „
„ Kishnaghur
„
„ Ranaghat
„
„ Beernuggur
„
„ Moheshpore
„
„ Santipore, 2 vaccinators ...
„ Meherpore
union
„ North Suburban town
„ South Suburban „
„ Joynuggur
„
„ Baraipore
„
„ Cutwa
„
„ Serampore
„
for 5 months.
„
3
„
„ 3
„
„ 1 month.
„ 1 „
„ 2 months.
„ 3
„
„
2
„
„ 2
„
„ 1 month.
„ 3 months.
„ 1 month.
„ 2 months.
„
2
„
„ 2
„
„
3
„
„ 4
„
„ 1 month.
By shifting the men from one municipality to another when employed for short
periods, the 18 municipalities were supplied by 11 men.
Frequent changes
among vaccin-
ators
These circles have been under my superintendence during the whole of
the year included in this report. The 3 Deputy Superintendents remain
unchanged, but the changes amongst the vaccinators have been greater than in
the preceding year.
Of the 3 head vaccinators in the first circles, Dinno Nath Doss has
been ill during nearly the whole season ; Grish Chunder Ghose did not
perform his duties to my satisfaction,—he has accordingly been reduced to the
grade of ordinary vaccinator and Kadar Nath Ghose promoted in his
stead; Kally Churn Roy continues as head vaccinator. In the second circle,
head vaccinators Shoshee Bhoosun Acharjee and Hem Chunder Chuckerbutty
have been ill since January last, and Chunder Mohun Ganguli is the only head
vaccinator who has continued to work throughout the season. In the third
circle, head vaccinator Roma Nath Ghosal was sent to Dacca to carry on vaccin-
ation there at the request of the Civil Surgeon, forwarded to me through the
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Dr. Charles, Troyluckho Nath Chucker-
butty being promoted in his place; Woomesh Chunder Mookerjee was
incapacitated for work by fever during more than half the season ; and Taruck
Chunder Chatterjee, although himself suffering from fever, remained steadily at
his post.
Amongst the ordinary vaccinators many were lost entirely or temporarily
to the department from various causes, rendering it necessary to employ 5
fresh men in the first circle, 12 in the second, and 5 in the third. The staff
of vaccinators was thus less efficient than usual.
Causes.
The several causes which took men from the department were (1) sickness,
(2) the employment of vaccinators during the non-working season in
3
THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
13
Summary of work
of the three cir-
cles.
8. The number vaccinated.—The number of persons vaccinated, the number
of primary operations and of re-vaccinations, together with the result in each
circle, is shown in this table.
CIRCLE.
First Circle
...
...
...
...
...
Second „
...
...
...
...
...
Third „ ... ... ... ... ... ...
Total
...
PRIMARY VACCINATION.
TOTAL.
28,631
17,562
45,288
91,481
RESULT.
Successful.
28,500
17,394
45,095
90,989
Unsuccessful includ-
ing doubtful.
93
157
128
378
Unknown.
38
11
65
114
RE-VACCINATIONS.
Total.
3
30
2
35
RESULT.
Successful.
1
2
2
5
Unsuccessful includ-
ing doubtful.
2
28
......
30
Unknown.
...
...
...
...
Grand Total.
28,634
17,592
45,290
91,510
PERCENTAGE OF
SUCCESS
EXCLUDING
UNKNOWN.
Primary vaccination
99.67
99.10
99.71
99.58
Revaccination.
33.33
6.66
100
14.28
In the first circle the Deputy Superintendent inspected 22,886 cases, or
79.92 per cent.; in the second 14,080, or 80.03 per cent.; and in the third 36,653,
or 80.92 per cent.
The work has been done systematically, protecting one place as completely
as possible before passing on to another neighbourhood.
Superintendence.
The Superintendent visited every vaccinator twice during the vaccinating
season and some of them three times, remaining with each gang or division
(there are ten divisions in all) from two or three to ten or twelve days, according
to the amount of work to be inspected and the area over which it is scattered.
The Deputy Superintendents remain out almost constantly during the
working season, passing from gang to gang. It is difficult to say exactly how
often each man's work was inspected, as some are seen oftener than others, but
not less than ten or twelve times during the six working months.
Summary of work
of four seasons.
9. Comparison of present and past years.—The work performed during the
present and past years is shown in the following table.
CIRCLES.
First Circle ... ... ... ...
Second „
...
...
...
...
Third „
...
...
...
...
Total ...
1868-69.
Area in square miles.
240
360
508
1,108
Number of villages.
537
343
655
1,535
Number of successful
operations.
29,976
24,788
66,571
121,335
1869-70.
Area in square miles.
816
800
455
2,071
Number of villages.
772
926
477
2,175
Number of successful
operations.
33,483
53,199
68,633
155,315
1870-71.
Area in square miles.
864
720
925
2,509
Number of villages.
507
773
905
2,185
Number of successful
operations.
26,930
30,849
81,860
139,639
1871-72.
Area in square miles
960
551
720
2,231
Number of villages.
267
266
440
973
Number of successful
operations.
28,501
17,396
45,097
90,994
Causes of falling
off in 1871-72.
From this it will be observed that there is a very great falling off during
the last season; the numbers are indeed lower than in any of the four years
above compared. The reasons are—
New field.
Firstly—That in Burdwan vaccination is almost unknown.
4
THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
17
Particulars.
Form showing particulars regarding the protection from Small-pox enjoyed by the people.
CLASS OF PERSONS EXAMINED.
Convicts of Ahpore Jail
...
...
...
...
Ditto
Presidency Jail
...
...
...
...
Ditto
Kishnaghur
„
...
...
...
...
Ditto
Burdwan
„
...
...
...
...
Four schools
...
...
...
...
...
Inhabitants of seven villages ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Number examined.
1,743
851
268
201
387
838
4,288
Inoculated.
1,262
486
226
130
219
526
2,849
Per cent. of total examined
72.40
57.10
84.32
64.67
56.58
62.76
66.44
Vaccinated.
177
57
2
4
115
247
602
Per cent. of total examined.
10.15
6.69
.78
1.99
29.71
29.47
14.03
Had small-pox.
214
246
34
57
19
28
598
Per cent. of total examined
12.27
28.90
12.68
28.35
4.90
3.34
13.94
Unprotected.
90
62
6
10
34
37
239
Per cent. of total examined
5.16
7.28
2.23
4.97
8.78
4.41
5.57
Objections to vac-
cination urged by
the people.
14. Attitude of the people.—The district undertaken this year being one
in which vaccination has been but very sparingly practised, we met with more
opposition than usual; the thing was new, untried, and unknown. The people
suspected there was some design hidden behind the vaccination, that a new tax
was to be levied on all who were marked, or seeing that the coolies at the
depôts are mostly so marked, that they were to be removed to some distant
province to work as laborers or coolies. If we were only desiring to vaccinate
the children, why should we register their names and those of their guardians ?
The process would contaminate them; they would loose caste; we were trying
to make them Christians. The vaccinated children would all die. Why would
Government interfere and send them vaccinators whom they did not want, and
forbid the time-honored practice of inoculation, which they preferred ?
Some thought that the child who supplied virus would sicken and die; so
they hid their children, and it was with difficulty that we could keep up the
supply of virus.
Another very common remark was that the fever was desolating the
district, and how in its presence could they care for or think of vaccination.
My experience in this, as in former years, shows that in districts freshly taken
up there is opposition, not necessarily violent, but dogged, unreasoning, and
difficult to overcome; in places previously visited the opposition is very
slight, confined only to a few persons, and in many parts where the good effects
of vaccination have been seen and appreciated, the vaccinators are warmly
welcomed.
Instruction of ino¬
culators.
15. Instruction of inoculators.—We have succeeded in getting three inocu-
lators to join our gangs and receive instruction in vaccination; one was employed
with another vaccinator at a large village, Sreekhund in Cutwah, where he was a
man of influence. He made fair progress, and is desirous to join the department
should a vacancy occur. Two others were attached to the second circle to
5
20
THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
Powell says) the people were less inclined to think of a prospective
danger, than they would have been had not fever been afflicting the popula-
tion in the villages wherever the vaccinators were at work.
Attaching vaccin-
ators to dispen-
saries.
2. I entirely go with Dr. Powell in what he says of the inadvisability of
employing vaccinators during the recess as compounders at dispensaries. I
would keep them vaccinating as long as good work could be done as vaccin-
ators, and then give them leave to their homes for two months. I doubt if the
men are of much use as compounders under any circumstances at a dispensary.
Apprentices.
3. Referring to Dr. Powell's proposition to take up apprentice inoculators
on a salary of Rs. 5 a month, to teach them vaccination and then to license
them to practise vaccination under the metropolitan inspectors, I think the
practice might be found to work well. Might it not also be found practicable
to give all vaccinators small salaries and allow them to go out in the villages
and accept fees from the people ? We should thus be able to maintain double
the vaccinating staff with the same number of inspecting officers. We must
in time get the people to pay for vaccination, and this might be the best way
of commencing the less expensive system.
32
RANCHEE CIRCLE.
The percentage of successful cases was 98.15, and of successful points 95.82.
22. Hot weather set in early in March and all the parties were called on
the 15th to head-quarters. Three vaccinators remained out, one in Palamow, one
at Chuttra, and one in Pachamba, where small-pox continued up to 31st March.
It is to be regretted that no arrangements could be carried out for giving
effect to the orders of the Inspector-General of Hospitals with regard to ascer-
taining the extent of protection from small-pox afforded to the places visited
during the year.
Causes of increased
expenditure.
23. Finance.—There were four causes of increased expenditure during the
past season.
1st.—Increase of the Superintendent's pay for the latter half of the season,
October to March, Rs. 900.
2nd.—New tents, cost Rs. 295.
3rd.—Extra pay to native superintendents and vaccinators on duty in the
interior of district during the non-working season, Rs. 23-13-6.
4th.—Travelling allowance to writer and peon, Rs. 23-13-7.
None of these sources of expenditure were in existence last year (1870-71),
and the first two are not likely to burden next season's account.
Notwithstanding the considerable increase in outlay, it is satisfactory that
each successful case cost so much less than has been the rule in the Ranchee
circle.
RANCHEE,
29th April 1872.
STATISTICS—ERRATA.
P.S.—In printed annual returns of vaccination for 1869-70, page 27,
under "Ranchee circle," percentage successful, for "67.57," &c., read 71.88, 95.90,
93.09, 87.5, 80.25.
In ditto for 1870-71, pages 25 and 27, for "83.41," read 92.12.
Ditto
ditto, page 39, under " Maunbhoom," total, for 536, read
169, and in last column for " 536 " read 56.3, &c. See remark by the Superin-
tendent of Purulia dispensary.
INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING PREPARATION OF REPORTS.
43
CIRCULAR MEMO. No. 135.
FORT WILLIAM:
OFFICE OF INSPR.-GENL. OF HOSPITALS,
INDIAN MEDICAL DEPARTMENT;
The 21st February 1872.
Circular instruc-
tions regarding
the submission
of reports con-
cerning local vac-
cination.
THE undersigned is directed to request that you will instruct Civil
Surgeons and Medical Officers in charge of dispensaries, in preparing their
annual reports of vaccination for the year ending 31st March, to submit all
the information at their command on the following subjects:—
1. Number of public vaccinators under the orders of the reporter, distin-
guishing those paid by Government, Municipalities, and Local Funds, stating
their salaries and the periods of the year during which they were employed.
2. The mode and plan in, and on which, they were employed; what steps
were taken to define the area of operation, to secure the aid of civil authorities
or influential natives, and accomplish the complete vaccination of the localities
selected for operation.
3. The result of inspection; how often the vaccinator's work was seen;
what steps were taken to verify the amount and examine the quality of the
vaccination, and with what result.
4. The amount of work done during the year, and whether this work
was spread in a desultory and indefinite manner over a large area, or confined
to a smaller area which was thoroughly vaccinated.
5. The attitude and feeling of the people as regards vaccination.
6. The prevalence of the practice of inoculation. Facts or statistics
regarding the mortality—direct and indirect—of this proceeding should be
carefully noted when available.
7. Measures adopted to train inoculators and their result, giving the
particulars regarding them indicated in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4.
8. The prevalence of small-pox in the district, and the measures adopted
to prevent its spread, giving statistics if they are available.
9. Particulars regarding the protection from small-pox enjoyed by the
people, if carefully collected, would be important. The following form might
be used:—
Class of persons
examined.
Number examin-
ed.
Inoculated.
Per cent. of total
examined.
Vaccinated.
Per cent of total
examined.
1
Had small-pox.
Per cent. of total
examined.
Unprotected.
Per cent. of total
examined.
Jails, dispensaries, schools, and villages, might be inspected with a view
to obtaining facts of this kind.
By order,
(Sd.)
K. McLEOD, A.M., M.D.,
Offg. Secy, to the Inspr.-Genl. of Hospls.,
Indian Medical Dept.
50
ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
At Bograh.
Mr. Lyons, Civil Medical Officer of Bograh, gives the following statistics
regarding his district :—
Class of persons
examined.
School students .
Prisoners in Jail ...
Villagers ...
Shop-keepers...
Number
examined.
199
103
1021
101
Inocu-
lated
74
74
530
71
Per cent. of
total
examined.
37.18
71.83
51.90
70.29
Vaccin-
ated.
71
3
389
18
Per cent.
of total
examined.
35.67
2.91
38.09
17.82
Had small-
pox.
2
17
14
1
Per cent.
of total
examined.
1
16.50
1.37
.99
Unpro-
tected.
52
9
88
11
Per cent.
of total
examined.
26.13
8.73
8.61
10.89
Pubna.
Small-pox.
Pubna.—Mr. Davis reports that there is a vaccinator on Rs. 7 per mensem
attached to the sudder dispensary. He vaccinates in the station and is
occasionally sent into the interior. His work is desultory and very small in
amount. The percentage of success was poor. No inoculators have been
instructed. Small-pox broke out to a slight extent at Furreedpore in August,
and Shahzadpore in October. The vaccinator was deputed to treat those
affected. Inoculation is still very generally practised.
The following statistics of protection are given:—
Vaccine census at
Pubna
Class of persons ex-
amined.
Criminals in Pubna
Jail...
...
...
Number
examined
232
Inocu-
lated.
176
Per cent of
total ex-
amined-
75.8
Vaccin-
ated.
0
Per cent.
of total
examined.
0
Had small-
pox.
45
Per cent.
of total
examined.
19.4
Unpro-
tected.
11
Per cent.
of total
examined.
049.73
Doolye
At Doolye the dispensary compounder vaccinated a small number of
persons, with very indifferent success.
Serajgunge
At Serajgunge two vaccinators are entertained at Rs. 10 by the municipality.
They vaccinated 1,479 persons, with a percentage of success of 73.42.
ORISSA.
Cuttack.
Inoculation.
Cuttack.—Dr. Fleming reports that two vaccinators, paid Rs. 10 by
Government, are attached to the Cuttack dispensary, and one, paid the same
salary by the Superintendent of the Tributary Mehals, to the Ungool dispensary.
These men do not work on any definite plan, but vaccinate all who will accept
the operation, chiefly orphans and low caste people. The hospital assistant at
Jajepore vaccinated 21 persons. The Civil Surgeon inspected their work to
some extent and found the results good, but doubts the accuracy of the returns.
Inoculation is very generally practised in the district; no inoculators were
instructed. The people are much prejudiced against vaccination. Small-pox
prevails yearly in the district, but to no unusual extent in 1871-72.
The following statistics of protection are given:—
Vaccine census at
Cuttack.
Class of persons exa-
mined.
Under trial... ... ...
Civil... ... ... ...
Convicted... ... ... ...
Total..
Number
examined.
21
8
198
227
Inoculated
7
6
154
167
Per cent.
of total
examined.
33.3
75.0
77.7
73.5
Vaccin-
ated.
..
...
6
6
Per cent.
of total
examined.
.
...
3.0
2.6
Had small-
pox.
13
2
36
51
Per cent.
of total
examined.
61.9
25.0
18.1
22.4
Unpro-
tected.
1
.
2
3
Per cent.
of total
examined
4.7
...
1.0
1.3