THE METROPOLITAN CIRCLES.
7
disease. They continued to work there during the remainder of the season, and vaccinated a
very large number; but owing to this removal, the thannahs Dabeepore and Gobindpore were
scarcely touched, and Atchipore, which has been vaccinated in previous years, was likewise
passed over.
The area worked in approximated 925 square miles, in which 905 villages were protected
and 82,014 operations performed.
5. Number vaccinated.—The number of persons vaccinated, the number of primary
operations and of re-vaccinations, together with the result in each circle, is noted below.
PRIMARY VACCINATIONS.
CIRCLES.
1st circle ...
2nd „ ...
3rd „ ...
Total ...
Total.
27,012
31,093
82,009
140,114
RESULT.
Success-
ful.
26,925
30,847
81,855
139,627
Unsuccess-
ful, includ-
ing doubt-
ful
69
224
133
426
Unknown.
18
22
21
61
RE-VACCINATIONS.
Total.
16
14
5
35
RESULT.
Sucess-
ful.
5
2
5
12
Unsuccess-
ful, includ-
ing doubt-
ful.
11
12
...
23
Un-
known.
...
...
...
...
Grand total.
27,028
31,107
82,014
140,149
PERCENTAGE OF SUC-
---- EXCLUDING
UNKNOWN.
Primary
vaccination.
99.74
99.27
99.83
99.69
Re-vaccin-
ation.
31.25
14.28
100.
34.28
In the first circle the Deputy Superintendent inspected 23,500 cases, or 86.94 per cent.;
in the second, 25,096 or 80.67 per cent ; and in the third, 65,595 or 79.98 per cent.
6. Comparison of present and past years—Comparing the work performed during the
past year with that of 1868-69 and 1869-70, we find that the first circle, in 1868-69, overtook
about 240 square miles, worked in 537 villages, and vaccinated successfully 29,976 persons;
in 1869-70 they overtook 816 square miles, worked in 772 villages, and vaccinated success-
fully 33,483; in 1870-71, 864 square miles were overtaken, 507 villages protected, the number
of successful operations being 26,930.
In the second circle, in 1868 69, we have 360 square miles, 343 villages, and 24,788
successful operations; in 1869-70, 800 square miles, 926 villages, and 53,199 successful
operations; and in 1870-71, 720 square miles, 773 villages, and 30,849 successful operations.
In the third circle, in 1868-69, we have 508 square miles, 655 villages, and 66,571
successful operations, in 1869-70, 455 square miles, 477 villages, and 68,633 successful
operations; and in 1870-71, 925 square miles, 905 villages, and 81,860 successful operations.
7. From the above it will be observed that there has been a considerable falling off,
as compared with last year, in the first circle. There were great difficulties to contend with.
The district undertaken is sparsely populated—in many parts covered with jungle, infested by
wild beasts, and intersected by numerous rivers, khals and swamps; the men therefore had
to travel long distances to get from village to village, and the villages are for the most part
small. Inoculation had been frequently and recently practised; the number of unprotected
was thus reduced. Sickness prevailed amongst the people, and rendered them unwilling to
accept vaccination; and the vaccinators being prostrated with fever, were unable to work.
Beyond this there was great opposition displayed, especially in the early portion of the season,
the people threatening the vaccinators, and in one instance even proceeding to violence. As
the assault was a severe one, I thought it right that the offenders should be summoned before
the Deputy Magistrate of Shatkhirah, who found the villagers guilty of assault and fined
them. To these causes I attribute the large decrease in the number vaccinated, for as far
as my own observation goes, there was no want of energy on the part of the Deputy Super-
intendent or of the vaccinators.
In the second circle also there is a falling off compared with last year, owing chiefly to
recent inoculation. In many large sized villages there were but very few unprotected
children to be found.
In the third circle there is a large increase over the numbers of last year: a great part
of the area has been previously visited by vaccinators, and hence the people were prepared to
accept vaccination. To some portion of the district the Act forbidding inoculation has been
extended: hence inoculators could not interfere; and in Ghattal the numerous cases of small-
pox frightened the people. Although the work was doubtless facilitated by these circumstances
E