Fifth Annual Report of the Ranchee Circle of Vaccination for the year 1871-72, by ASSISTANT
SURGEON J. J. WOOD, M.D.
I HAVE the honor to forward along with this the fifth annual report of the
Ranchee circle of vaccination, the returns for the past season 1871-72, and a
sketch map of Chota Nagpore showing the amount and degree of vaccination.
Establishment
2. The sanctioned establishment of 1 Superintendent, 3 native superin-
tendents, and 20 vaccinators, remained the same.
Summary of re-
sults.
The outturn of cases for the year is 35,650, of which 34,664 were success-
ful, and the percentage of success is 98.38. The increase from last year is thus,
in cases, 12,337, and in successful cases 14,087, and the average percentage of
success is much greater. Each successful case cost annas 4 pie 7 7/10, while last
year the cost was annas 7-0 2/5 pie.*
THE NON-WORKING SEASON.
Work done during
the hot weather
and rains
3. May and October were the only months in which no operations were
performed.
Only 458 vaccinations were accomplished during this part of the season,
and 404 were successful, which, excluding 8 doubtful, gives 89.77 per cent., a good
result considering the time of year. There was no call for vaccinators to go
into Purulia or Chyebassa districts. Almost all the non-working season's returns
are from sub-division Palamow of Lohardugga, and sub-division Pachamba of
Hazareebagh. A centre for future extension was formed by native superin-
tendent Elahee Bux around Baloomath, in Pergunnah Toree, which lies due
north of Lohardugga thannah, and is on the low ground below the ghâts.
THE WORKING SEASON.
Lohardugga dis-
trict work more
concentrated.
4. I. Lohardugga.—There was great need for keeping the work of the
whole establishment closer together than had in other years been possible
or consistent with efficient supervision; so three thannahs in Lohardugga district
were fixed upon before the season began, and the plan of concentrating oper-
ations was explained to the three native superintendents.
Thus was fortunately fulfilled, to a considerable extent, the first of the
principles laid down by the Inspector-General of Hospitals in last year's pub-
lished report on vaccination.
Area selected.
The thannahs chosen were Ranchee, Chorea, and Lohardugga, which lie in a
line from east to west in the order named. This area is about 80 miles long by
20 miles broad, and is bounded on the north by Hazareebagh district and
Pergunnah Toree. It is on the Chota Nagpore plateau, and its inhabitants are
Coles with a considerable mixture of low caste Hindus and Mussulmans. Many
of the zemindars are high caste Hindus.
Proceedings in and
around Ranchee.
5. Native Superintendent Sheik Elahee Bux and his party of seven vaccinators
began the season's work in Ranchee Bazaar, where there had been a mild epidemic
of small-pox in the latter end of October. A good vesicle was established, and on
the 6th November two men were sent as pioneers to Opah, a small village,
30 miles west and north from Ranchee, whither the native superintendent
followed them in a few days.
At Opah he had left off work last year approaching it from the east, and
this year's work carried the vaccinated area on westward to the foot of the
hills in the west of Lohardugga thannah, which separate it from Palamow
sub-division. Progress was then made southward beyond Korambe, and the
* This is the work of the Government vaccinators alone, and does not include 6,937 cases done free of
expense to the State.