4
THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
One point of great importance which he calls attention to is the fact, now established,
that vaccination can be maintained throughout the year amongst the native population.
I am inclined to doubt, however, if vaccination is a safe operation after the month of
March for children of European parentage.
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* I differ from
Dr. Charles in thinking that more restrictive measures are required to ensure complete
segregation of small-pox cases when that disease is prevalent in Calcutta, for the reasons
adverted to in Bengal Government resolution of 7th January 1870; but I do think that
every possible inducement should be held out to those who have not the means of isolating
small-pox cases in their own homes or homesteads to send all such cases to the hospital at
Sealdah.
A most important question connected with the extension of vaccination is that of making
it self-supporting. As far as I can see, the only bar to the universal introduction of vaccina-
tion as a substitute for inoculation is the great expense which would attend the measure.
Our efforts therefore should be directed to the establishment, in those districts where
vaccination has been for some years carried on, of a system whereby all families bene-
fitting by the labors of the vaccine department (except the very poor) should be called
upon to pay a small charge for the vaccine operation. Inoculators working in Bengal are
always paid for their labor, and as soon as vaccination is recognised by the masses as an
effectual protection against small-pox, I see no reason why the Superintendent-General
should not be authorized to instruct his vaccinators to demand a small fee, say four annas.
Assuredly no Government will be able to extend the benefits derivable from vaccination
throughout the country unless it not only is universally accepted as a benefit, but is
sought and paid for. I am afraid the Government will consider that Dr. Charles's report is
too diffuse, seeing that this point was strongly commented on in paragraph 20 of the
Government resolution above adverted to. *
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Annual Report of the Metropolitan Circles of Vaccination for the year ending 31st March 1870,
by SURGEON F. POWELL, M.B., Superintendent.
1. THE three metropolitan circles of vaccination remained under the general superin-
tendence of the Superintendent-General at Calcutta until the 4th of December, on which
date I received charge of the same from Dr. Charles.
2. The three deputy superintendents employed previously in these circles have con-
tinued in office—Baboo Ram Soonder Ghose in the first, Baboo Buddynath Brummo in the
second, and Baboo Jadub Chunder Ghose in the third circle.
3. The changes in the vaccinators have been but few. In the first circle two men were
discharged for being absent without leave, and one resigned on account of increasing age and
infirmity; three others have been entertained in their places.
4. In the second circle one man was given over to the town of Calcutta, a fresh man
being entertained in his place.
5. In the third circle one head vaccinator, Hurrish Chunder Ghosaul, died, and was
succeeded by Tarruck Chunder Chatterjee, who was promoted, another being entertained in
his place.
6. First metropolitan circle.—The district assigned to the deputy superintendent of the
first circle, Baboo Ram Soonder Ghose, to be overtaken during the vaccinating season of
1869-70, consists of eight thannahs in the 24-Pergunnahs, namely, Nyehatty, Tababarriah,
Nawabgunge, Baraset, Aureyadoho, Dum-Dum, Ooriaparrah, and Hurwah, measuring about 34
miles from north to south, and 24 from east to west, approximating 816 square miles. The
vaccinators worked in 772 villages in this tract of country, besides fourteen villages in
Kullingah thannah, where small-pox had broken out. This tract has been efficiently
protected to a great extent by vaccination, but to some extent by inoculation also, with
the exception of a few villages lying in the swamps to the south and east of Hurwah
thannah, and about ten villages in the Baraset thannah. The advancing season rendered
it unadvisable to complete these. Arrangements will be made to overtake them early next
season.
7. Second metropolitan circle.—To the second deputy superintendent, Baboo Buddy Nath
Brummo, was assigned eight thannahs in the Nuddea zillah, namely, Kishnaghur, Hauskally,