[ 20
]
Number of operations
performed in the
City.
The number of operations during the 4½ months vaccination was
carried on, amounted to 1314, which although shewing an increase over the
numbers done in any previous year, is yet but a mere fraction, considering
the size and population of the place. Taking the population of the city at
85,300, (census 1868) and the estimated annual number of births at
one-thirtieth of this number, it is found that about 2,800 children under 1
year of age ought to be vaccinated yearly, not taking into account the large
number over that age, that have been accumulating for several years, and
remaining unprotected either by vaccination or a previous attack of small
pox. The number of children vaccinated under one year was 587, being
about one-fifth of the annual birth rate as above calculated.
Little or no assis-
tance given by the
Municipal Commit-
tee.
As in former years but little efficient assistance was given by the
Members of the Municipal Committee. The subject of vaccination was,
I believe, on several occasions brought before them in Committee, but with
the exception of Nawab Abdul Majid Khan, Honorary Magistrate, none of
them appear to have done any thing beyond giving vague promises of
assistance, that were never fulfilled. The opposition of the city people is
so great, that, it seems a mere waste of time and money, to send Vaccina-
tors among them unaided; to do any good the Vaccinators ought always
to be accompanied by some influential and intelligent Native to overcome
the prejudices of the people, and to encourage them to bring their children
to be vaccinated. If the Members of the Municipal Committee, each in
his turn, would make it part of their duty to do this, it would in course of
time have an excellent effect, and be the means of saving a great many
lives that are lost yearly by so preventible a disease as small pox.
Deaths from small
pox in the City.
In the year 1869, the number of deaths in the city from small pox
alone was 425, being double the number of deaths caused in the same year
by cholera, and nearly one-eighth of the whole mortality arising from all
causes put together. A glance at the following figures taken from the
Sanitary Commissioner's Report for 1869, will shew this :—
Death from small pox,
Do. from cholera, ...
Total deaths from all causes,
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
425
212
3,600
8. Cantonment of Mian Mir. In the month of January, I placed a
Vaccinator at the disposal of Dr. Birch, the Officer in medical charge of
the Staff, Mian Mir, who kindly offered to superintend Vaccine opera-
tions in Cantonments. A good deal of opposition was at first encountered,
and it is through his exertions and the active interest he took in the matter,
that vaccination in the end proved successful.
Number vaccinated
in Cantonments.
The total number vaccinated was 340, of which 130 were under one
year of age; percentage of success 94.
Numbers vaccinated
in
Shurruckpore
Tehseel.
9. Shurruckpore Tehseel. After finishing operations in four Zails near
the city of Lahore, I proceeded, on the 10th December towards the Eastern
portion of the Shurruckpore Tesheel, and commenced work there. This
Tehseel comprises an area of 89,440 square miles, and contains a popula-
tion of rather more than 119,000. The total number of vaccinations was
7,675, being nearly double the estimated number of births during the year.
At first a good deal of opposition was met with, but the Zaildars appeared
to have more influence over the Lumberdars than those I came across in
the Lahore Tehseel, and the latter for the most part giving good assistance,
the work progressed very satisfactorily in consequence.
Success attributable
to assistance given
by Tehseeldar Beij-
nath.
Vaccination perform-
ed in this sub-division
last year.
Immunity from small
pox by those previ-
ously vaccinated.
As the Vaccinators gradually advanced in the direction of Shurruck-
pore, I found that the numbers vaccinated increased to a large extent; and
this increase is to be attributed, in a great measure, to the exertions of the
Tesheeldar, Beijnath, who did every thing in his power to extend vacci-
nation throughout his district. This Tehseel had been gone over by a
Native Superintendent and four Vaccinators last year, in the course of
my tour through it, satisfactory evidence of their work was seen, in the
number of children observed with comparatively recent vaccination marks
on their arms. It was pleasing to see the immunity from small pox en-
joyed by these children; and the difference between their smooth faces and
the faces of children of a larger growth, who were in a great number of
instances more or less disfigured by that disease, was noticeable to a
marked degree. This favourable contrast, not unfrequently presenting it-
self, afforded an excellent opportunity of pointing out to the bystanders
the advantages derived from vaccination, which they seemed readily enough