((
4
))
A great deal of work was also done in the villages of the Garounda
Tahsil, the Tahsildar having given good assistance.
Small-pox not very pre-
valent in the Punjab.
Small-pox has appeared,
but has not spread in theSmall-pox has not been
districts where the establish-
ment has worked.
5. Small-pox has not been so prevalent in the Punjab this year as in
former years. In the several districts visited by the
establishment, there have been much fewer deaths from
this disease. It is satisfactory to know that, although small-pox has appeared
in several districts where the establishment has worked,
it has not in one instance spread throughout the dis-
trict, as was almost invariably the case formerly.
This, the fact of its not becoming epidemic, and not the numbers said
to have been vaccinated, should be taken as the true criterion of the value of
the work performed.
Falling off in the numbers
vaccinatëd and its 'cause.
6. Compared with the last return, there is a
considerable falling off in the numbers vaccinated.
This was caused by the difficulty found in supervising the operations
in the Rawulpindi district on account of its large size, and the compara-
tive paucity of its population. The villages too, in many places, are separat-
ed by long distances from each other, and it was found impossible to see the-
work done in the more distant ones. The vaccinators had therefore to be
concentrated, and during part of the time many of them, though not altoge-
ther idle, had not their time fully occupied. With an active Assistant, I
think I could have finished this district in little more than half the time
taken.
Simla Small-pox Hospital.
Used for both cholera and
small-pox patients.
7. In my last report, when speaking of the Simla Small-pox Hospital,
I stated that I considered it was unsuitable both from
its construction and from its situation, giving my reasons. It has, however,
been allowed to remain, and this year was used as a
hospital both for small-pox and cholera patients. On
more than one occasion patients attacked with cholera were sent there, and
contracted small-pox from their neighbours suffering with that disease.
I
at once, on hearing this, addressed the Chairman, Simla Municipal Committee,
and received from him a reply that the building was so used at the request
of the Officers in Medical charge of Simla. I can here only repeat that I
adhere to my opinion formerly expressed, and state that I consider it very
objectionable that a Small-pox Hospital should be used for any other pur-
pose than that originally intended.
Conduct of the vaccina-
tors very good.
8. The behaviour of the vaccinators as a body has been very good.
Only one or two very trivial complaints were made
against some of them. One Native Superintendent,
whose general conduct was very bad, I was obliged to discharge.
Some have worked exceptionally well. I would beg to recommend
that rewards be given, to the amount of one month's pay (Rs. 40), to Native-
Superintendents "Bullie Ram" and "Doonee Chund," they having both
worked exceedingly well. "Doonee Chund's" name I mentioned when speak-
ing of the Amritsar district.
"Bullie Ram" belonged to the old Simla Vaccine Establishment.
He has worked well for six years, during the whole of which time I have
never once had occasion to find the slightest fault with him.