46
ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
as the old. The inoculators must console themselves with the reflection that half a loaf is
better than no bread, as in the villages where they used to work as inoculators not a person
has been inoculated for more than five years.
A small stipend
proposed.
I would, however, earnestly recommend that some small stipend be given to these men
for the present, say Rs. 2 per mensem each during the working season, the Civil Surgeon
being authorized to withhold payment whenever he sees occasion for so doing.
At the close of the present season all the new vaccinators came forward, soliciting some
little aid until their practice became more extended and profitable. Dr. Saunders, who
happened to be here on inspection duty when the newly trained vaccinators came forward,
saw the men, and heard what they had to say. He agrees with me in thinking that these
men should receive some little aid on the understanding that they submit correct returns of
their work and obey the orders of the Civil Surgeon.
Brahmin ticcadars
With the wandering inoculator I have little sympathy; but for the old Bengali
Brahmin ticcadars I have some regard. After all it is not their fault that the profession
they follow is dangerous to the community. They and their fathers before them for gener-
ations have lived by its practice, and it is not to be wondered at that they have hitherto
opposed in every way the introduction of vaccination. As a body the Brahmin village
ticcadars of Bengal have been ignored and despised by vaccine superintendents, and with
disastrous results to the cause of vaccination in more instances than one.
Legislative enactments, so frequently demanded, may pauperise this class of people, but
it will never subdue their opposition to vaccination,—an opposition by which they have
succeeded in paralysing to a great extent all the costly efforts that have been hitherto made
to spread vaccination amongst the people of this province.
The inoculators of this district are as a body fairly educated. It is exceptionable to
meet a man who cannot read, and many of them can write also.
Dr. Charles kindly sent me some copies of his Bengali pamphlets on vaccination, which
I distributed amongst the recently trained men. Their work has hitherto been entirely
confined to Midnapore town and the surrounding villages.
Systematic super-
vision necessary.
I do not think it would be wise to place it on a more extended basis until arrangements
for systematic supervision are completed and sanctioned. During the past three months the
work of the vaccinators was, on the whole, carefully looked after, but it commenced late in the
year, and at first much time was lost owing to the difficulties connected with the lymph supply.
This need not occur again, and next year with my present staff I hope to thoroughly protect
Midnapore and the surrounding villages within a radius of twenty miles, provided Govern-
ment sanctions the payment of Rs. 2 per mensem to each vaccinator.
Proceedings
at
Mysadul.
The system of instructing inoculators has been commenced at Mysadul. The Sub-
Assistant Surgeon informs me that five men have come forward, and that he has commenced
giving them instruction.
The Mysadul Rajah has prohibited the practice of inoculation on any part of his estate,
and I have suggested to the dispensary committee that the salary, i.e., Rs. 10 per mensem, at
present paid to the dispensary vaccinator should be given to these men at the rate of Rs. 2
per mensem, when they are pronounced competent operators by the Sub-Assistant Surgeon.
Facilities for ex-
tending vaccin-
ation in Midna-
pore.
In conclusion, I would earnestly draw the attention of the head of the department to the
facilities that exist for extending the practice of vaccination in Midnapore.
Aid rendered by
civil authorities;
The vast majority of the landholders are opposed to the practice of inoculation. The
people seem in many instances to be fully alive to its dangers, and I never have yet encountered
the many difficulties here that beset the practice of vaccination in other districts. The
assistance received from the civil authorities has been as cordial as its results have been
satisfactory. Notices have been circulated amongst the inoculators of the district through
the police that the services of the Civil Surgeon were at the disposal of all those who choose
to learn vaccination.
and local zemin-
dars
The local zemindars are fully aware of the interest taken in the success of the system
by the Magistrate, and their influence consequently is invariably bestowed on the Civil
Surgeon. Last season, whilst on tour of inspection, I found considerable difficulty and
inconvenience on many occasions, and I would ask the Inspector-General to recommend that
a small tent should be placed at my disposal, say from October to March, and some fixed
allowance granted to me whilst engaged in superintending vaccine operations. It must be
borne in mind that I loose all emolument from private practice whilst engaged on this work
in the mofussil.
To the Superintendent of the Jail, Dr. Sconce, I must express my thanks for his having
kindly undertaken to attend to any emergent cases that may have occurred during my
frequent tours in the mofussil.
The presence of another Medical Officer in Midnapore enables me to attend to mofussil
work to an extent which is entirely impracticable in other stations.