RANCHEE CIRCLE.
31
Vaccination
in
Purulia.
18. I learn from the Civil Surgeon of Purulia that there are 99 inoculators
registered, 37 of whom have been taught to vaccinate; 27 of these had been at
work and showed 3,565 cases, of which Mr. Wilson saw more than half, and the
character of the cases seems to have been extremely good, 98.78 being successful.
The average number of cases to each man was less than 140, but this is a fault
that will mend.
Vaccination among
native Christians.
Besides the 13 inoculators above-mentioned, a Christian Cole from the
Lutheran Mission at Ranchee was taught, and has since been employed at Gobind-
pore, a mission station some 20 miles south of Ranchee. Another Christian is
also employed* at Gobindpore, who was formerly a fair vaccinator when in
Government employ. These men have peculiar advantages for vaccinating among
the native Christians who come weekly to church at Govindpore, and I hope
to hear more of their successful practice.
Fees.
19. As to the fees charged by vaccinators, several competent officers
think that the old rate of 4 annas for a boy and 2 annas for a girl is too high,
and that it prevents vaccination reaching the poorer people. Two annas, it is
agreed, is quite sufficient to repay a vaccinator for each case, and if a low
standard could be fixed it might induce him to work harder to increase his
gains. When men are learning vaccination under the native superintendents,
they usually get food and drink from the villagers, but at that stage of their
education I have always objected to their taking fees. When once a man
is able to vaccinate he receives such remuneration as the persons can afford. I
refer to vaccinators not on the Government establishment.
Inspection.
20. Superintendence.—The party under native superintendent Sheikh
Elahee Bux was visited four times, the other two parties five times during the
working season. The time of resting with a party varied from four days to three
weeks. Sometimes the vaccinators were allowed to stray too far from their
native superintendent, and in other ways things did not run altogether smoothly,
and time was required gradually to set them right. In the actual inspec-
tion of villages, 10 or 12, counting their tolahs, were found to be as many as
could be managed in one day, and that amount of work could not be done every
day. In many parts of the circle the villages are very much scattered, and the
roads through jungle, and where they are not scattered the "bund" of a rice field
is often the only path. When circumstances were favourable the children of
several adjacent villages were gathered into a " tope, " and time saved in that way.
Character of vaccin¬
ation
Number of cases
inspected
and
result.
21. The character of vaccination during the year has been good. Lymph
in tubes was sent from Calcutta, and crusts from Almorah, which assisted us at
starting. Several cases of axillary abscess were met with, caused by the rough
handling of the children and want of cleanliness after vaccination. The list
given below shows the number of cases inspected after 19th December, and the
numbers are arranged in the form used by Dr. Powell and according to the
instructions of the Inspector-General of Hospitals :—
Seen after the 10th day ...
Ditto from 13th to 16th day ...
Ditto
9th to 12th day ...
Ditto
5th to 8th day ...
Ditto
1st to 4th day ...
Total ...
Vaccinated in
4 points, of which
there were successful.
4
...
5
1
...
...
6
3
...
2
...
...
...
2
2
2
34
...
...
...
36
1
...
8
1
...
...
9
Failed.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Vaccinated in
3 points, of which
there were suc-
cessful.
3
1
5
2
1
...
9
2
1
34
...
1
...
36
1
6
26
...
...
...
32
Failed.
...
...
...
...
...
...
Vaccinated m 2
points, of which
there were suc-
cessful.
2
511
1,008
220
169
1
1,909
1
126
202
105
51
...
484
Failed.
26
18
18
7
...
69
Vaccinated
m 1 point, of
which there
were suc-
cessful.
1
3,808
684
779
363
77
5,711
Failed.
22
3
46
16
...
87
Doubtful.
1
1
1
1
17
21
Sore arms.
12
...
...
...
...
12
Compared with register
4,516
1,822
1,173
608
95
8,214
Total
4,516
2,030
1,173
609
95
8,423
Absent.
475
364
94
29
...
962
Grand Total
4,991
2,394
1,267
638
95
9,385
* I have as yet no account of his work.