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ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
Reports, &c., not
received regularly
—Cause.
" Returns and reports from ex-inoculators newly taught were not received regularly;
this was due to the great difficulty experienced by them in obtaining postage stamps to
send in their papers by the Government post, a course not necessary, and one which the
men could but ill-afford to adopt, as they receive no salary and provide their own stationery.
They were instructed to use the district dak.
Suggests stationery
being supplied to
ex-inoculators.
" Stationery might with advantage be allowed for the preparation of the returns
required, it would insure their submission; those obliged to furnish them have no interest
in doing so, and look upon the work as a great nuisance; many, indeed, are discouraged
from practising vaccination on account of the expense and annoyance attending it.
" Ten rupees would suffice to cover the cost of stationery during the working season.
" The men work cheerfully, and carry out orders with fair punctuality; they are deserv-
ing of every encouragement, particularly as it is by this agency alone that the establish-
ment of exhaustive and perennial vaccination of the district, without cost to Government,
may be looked forward to as an accomplished fact.
" A withdrawal of these men from the scene of operations at this juncture would prove
fatal to the cause of vaccination; a fair commencement having been made, no efforts should
be spared in inducing them to come forward and taking a lively interest in the work.
" The expense incurred in providing stationery for the submission of returns proves a
constant source of annoyance and complaint; I trust the matter will meet with attention.
Disposal of ex-in-
oculators.
" The 38 instructed inoculators employed in the defined areas were disposed of as under:—
Chatna division ... ... ... ...
Bancoorah „ ... ... ... ....
Bissenpore „ ... ... ... ...
6
16
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They worked in gangs of two, three or four men, according to the amount of work to be
done, and to each party a defined area was allotted; all were under the suprintendence of
the Government vaccinator and myself.
" The hospital assistant in charge of the dispensary rendered valuable aid in the work
of instruction and supervision in the station.
Result of inspec-
tions satisfactory
" 3. The result of my inspections has, I am happy to have it to record, been satisfactory.
The work of the vaccinators was seen by me at least twice during the working season, and in
some places three or four times. In the Bissenpore division, where much opposition existed,
I have been engaged from seven to ten days in starting and inspecting vaccination.
Mode of inspection
" When inspecting the work, I made it a rule to have the vaccinators present with their
registers of operations; this was necessary to insure the attendance of the people on the date
and time fixed in localities selected by them ; any attempt to collect the inhabitants of a
village without the presence of the vaccinator would simply prove futile.
" Arriving at the appointed place little or no difficulty was experienced in mustering those
operated on and verifying the work one by one with the registers produced; this line of
action facilitated matters considerably, and afforded me time to visit almost every village in
which operations were being carried on; three-fourths of those vaccinated, I can safely
assert, were inspected by me.
'' The number of points operated on being objected to, the vaccinators were instructed
not to exceed two with babes, three with grown up children, and four with adults; this ar-
rangement has satisfied the people.
Arm-to-arm vacci-
nation practised.
" Arm-to-arm vaccination has been the practice; in fact it was the only means available
to carry out the work, as the people cannot be induced to give up their crusts lest some
fearful calamity should befal them, if not, death itself.
" During my tour of inspection, I have over and over again observed numbers of
children, and even adults, present themselves with bleeding arms, apprehensive that the
crusts would be taken by me they tore them off and threw them away.
" It is only at the dispensary, and in some localities about the town of Bancoorah, that
a few crusts might be collected; were it not for the liberal supplies sent up to me by
Dr. Charles no progress could have been made in the work, as it is, much valuable time was
lost for want of virus.