(15)
The first calf was vaccinated on the 11th February 1894 with lanoline lymph procured
from the Calcutta Depôt on 3rd February and prepared there on 30th January. Only
a few points appeared successful, but owing to an error in counting, no lymph could be
obtained, as it was over 126 hours old,
The second calf was vacinated on 17th February, partly with fresh human lymph and
partly with some lanoline lymph kept over from the previous calf vaccination. The vesicles
here were also poor; but were utilized to vaccinate calf No. 3 on 22nd February (the
6th day or 117 hours). This turned out an absolute failure.
The fourth calf was vaccinated on 17th March from Calcutta lanoline lymph procured
on 16th March and prepared on 8th March.
And the 5th calf on the 22nd March from the same. Both turned out failures.
The first three calves were vaccinated under my supervision by the District Inspector,
who has had some practical training at the Animal Vaccination Depôt, Calcutta, before
entering the Department. The scarifier was used after following out the printed directions
issued to us from the Sanitary Commissioner's office. The calves were also carefully selected.
The last two calves were vaccinated by the Sadar Sub-Inspector assisted by the second
municipal vaccinator, who had also previously attended the former vaccinations.
"We received no help from the Chairman of the Sadar Municipality, nor from any native,
though several were addressed. We were informed that we should have to purchase our calves,
as no one would lend them; we could then resell them after use. But this system would
entail expense, and we had no means to meet such. The expense would include (a) purchase
of calves, (b) their upkeep until resold, (c) construction of stables, if the jail refused to accom-
modate, feed and look after them; (d) a vaccinator and barber combined to operate and attend
on them. Hindu vaccinators will at first refuse to touch a calf with a lancet, although in
their tender humanity they would willingly back a child to pieces. I have overcome certain
of their scruples by threat of dismissal, but we must feel our way gradually. The District
Inspector, however, is a high class Brahman, and when it is seen he does not hesitate to vacci-
nate calves, the objections of others on that score will soon be overcome.
In order to enable us to establish the calf vaccination system satisfactorily and on a
permanent basis in the district, the following proposals are submitted for consideration. Let a
central bovine lymph depôt be established at the head-quarters station of each district
under the management and at the expense of the District Board. To this the local muni-
cipality and the Jail Department should be made to contribute, especially as the latter have
now to vaccinate more extensively than before.
The expenses to be incurred would
approximately be as follows:—
One municipal vaccinator to assist at Rs. 4 per month extra pay. One Mussalman
vaccinator and barber combined at Rs. 10 per month. Two coolies to attend and feed, &c.,
at Rs. 10.
The establishment would therefore cost Rs. 24 per mensem. Then there would be
expenses for purchase of calves to be resold at a possible loss. For their feed and upkeep,
for stables, for tubes, lanoline, razors and other incidental charges.
I observe the Calcutta Depôt in 1892-93 expended on 'coolies and other charges'
Rs. 1,100, and on establishment and rent Rs. 2,870; and some 498 calves were dealt with under
the District Depôt system proposed; the expensive establishment and rental would be very
greatly reduced for 12 months to Rs. 288; and if the depôt be kept open only for the
vaccination season, the expenses would be a little more than half, say, Rs. 200. The District
Inspector and Sadar Sub-Inspector under the Civil Surgeon could easily supervise. On the
other hand, considering the extreme inconveniences suffered both by vaccinators and infant
vaccinifers on the score of procuring lymph at present, all the vaccinators would gladly pay
for their supplies of lymph at the rate of, say, Rs. 1-9 per tube of lanoline lymph enough to
vaccinate 100 children; this would equal about 3 pie per case.
As 50 to 60,000 vaccinations occur in this district, we may well expect a good income
ranging from, say, Rs. 500 to Rs. 800, which would go far to pay current expenses.
In the course of time when people become accustomed to the Central Depôt at head-
quarters, whence also bovine vaccinifers may be procured for direct vaccination in villages
around, subdivisional and thana depôts may be opened for solely calf vaccination purposes ;
and thus the original plan of vaccination direct from the calf would be gradually established
throughout the mufassal.
When it is seen that vaccination does in no way interfere with the
health and usefulness of animals, calves would be forthcoming at a nominal charge. The
endeavour to extend the system throughout the district at present would be, in my opinion
and that of the District Inspector, to frustrate the design."
Jessore.—The
Civil Surgeon, Dr. Morris, who was in bad health most of
the cold season, was not able to attend to the experiment personally.
Surgeon-
Captain Sinha, who succeeded him late in the season, submits the report—
" No experiments were made in the interior of this district during the last season to in-
troduce direct vaccination from calf-lymph: the experiment was tried in the Sadar Muni-
cipality with two calves—one received from the municipal authorities, and one from the jail.
I took over charge from Surgeon-Captain Morris on the 12th March 1894, and found it