ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
79
instances, the age and the caste have also not been given in the returns sent in, so that the
several columns in the return do not agree with the total number vaccinated. I would
suggest that blank forms of returns on large sheets of paper, with printed headings in Ben-
galee, be supplied for these men, when they are likely to make their returns more com-
plete, as in manuscript forms they do not take the trouble to write down the headings
properly.
Inspection
"I could inspect the work of only three sets of vaccinators, visiting 31 villages, and ex-
amining 1,578 cases, of these 196 were unsuccessful and 1,382 successful cases. Of the
successful cases, 723 were excellent cases of vaccination, the vesicles were well formed and
whole, but the remaining 659 cases were somewhat indifferent, as the vesicles had burst,
either of themselves or by being scratched and rubbed over with turmeric or tamarind by
the people themselves. The inoculators are at a disadvantage regarding the success of their
operations, as the people do prefer to see the tika turn into sores and have a well marked
and large sized indentation on the skin, and rub the vesicles over with all kinds of filth and
irritating substances.
Work of catechists
Work done in civil
station.
" Besides these brahmin tekaits, four native catechists of the German Lutheran Mis-
sion were by permission of their pastor, the Rev. A. Nottrott, taught vaccination in order
to vaccinate the native christians in their own villages. I have received returns from two
of the catechists, who have performed 75 operations, with 51 successful and 24 unsuccess-
ful cases. I have shown their work separately in the return, from which it will be seen
that they have vaccinated more among heathens than among christians. Next season
I expect to instruct some more of these catechists in vaccination. The vaccination at the
civil station was also satisfactory during the year as regards numbers. Taking advantage
of a threatened outbreak of small-pox by the occurrence of a few cases, the whole station
was vaccinated. The result was, that 701 persons were vaccinated, with 441 successful, 141
unsuccessful and doubtful, and 119 unknown cases. The large number of unsuccessful
cases was owing to the first supply of lymph having turned out bad. The subsequent sup-
ply which I received from the North-Western Provinces was very good lymph. Half the
working season was again lost last season for want of a sufficient quantity of crusts to supply
the tekaits with. One of the inoculators was employed to vaccinate at Chyebassa, and he
vaccinated 237 persons, with 181 successful and 31 unsuccessful and doubtful cases, the
result in the remaining 25 being unknown. By sanction of the deputy commissioner he
received a remuneration of Rs. 24 from the town fund.
Small-pox
" Four cases of small-pox occurred at Chyebassa in the sudder bazaar. This was taken
advantage of, as before mentioned, to carry out vaccination throughout the civil station.
The disease did not spread. There were reports of many cases of small-pox by the police,
but on examination all these turned out to be chicken-pox.
" In the month of January a report was received from the police out-post Kokpara, 60
miles east of Chyebassa, of the occurrence of one case of small-pox.
" The dresser attached to the dispensary was sent out to vaccinate at the locality, and
he sent in from time to time returns of his work, from which it appeared that vaccination
was proceeding very satisfactorily, as, with few exceptions, all the cases were returned as
successful. On afterwards inspecting his work all the cases were found to have been unsuc-
cessful, false returns having been submitted by him. He was dismissed. Fortunately,
there was no outbreak of small-pox, and with the exception of the solitary case reported as
small-pox no report of further cases was received.
" The returns submitted by the dresser have not been shown in the present return."
Maunbboom
dis-
trict.
Employment of in-
oculators.
Maunbhoom District.—Mr. W. Wilson, civil medical officer, reports that 130 persons
were vaccinated in the station by himself and his assistants. The dispensary is too poor to
afford to employ a vaccinator. A young brahmin was employed for six weeks, and paid at
the rate of two annas per case. A mild epidemic of small-pox broke out in April 1872 in
two pergunnahs where vaccination has not been introduced. Twenty-five deaths took place.
Mr. Wilson's account of the progress of the system of employing ex-inoculators, or tekaits,
in vaccinating is as follows:—
" There are no other vaccinators in the district, whether paid by the Government or
municipality, except tekaits or ex-inoculators, who have been carrying on vaccine opera-
tions in the interior charging their own fees. The work of vaccination in the station and
town of Purulia has been conducted, as heretofore, by myself, the jail hospital assistant,
and dispensary native doctor. A separate report of such operations is annexed, also a
return.