[ 10 ]
absence of a better and less dangerous prophylatic as vaccination is;
but woe to those neighbouring states or districts that are not so
protected, the contagion is sure to spread sooner or later to those
unprotected; and this is sufficient reason for prohibiting the practice,
more especially in those parts where it is not in general favour
with the people.
The time chosen for
inoculation corres-
ponds
with the
period of increase
of mortality from
Small Pox.
It is worthy of note that the month of March is the time
usually chosen for inoculation, and this corresponds with the period
of increase of mortality from small pox in the Punjab, it is probable
that there is a close connection between the two circumstances.
Vaccine operations in
the districts that have
previously been visi-
ted by the Provincial
Establishment.
38. In the districts that have already been visited by the
Provincial Establishment, vaccinations have been carried on, in
most of them favorably.
Lahore.—Operations were carried on in the Lahore district
under the Superintendence of Dr. J. Bennett, whose report is ap-
pended. It will be sufficient to say here that he worked extremely
hard, keeping a very close supervision over the establishment under
him, and the comparatively large number of vaccinations performed
in the Lahore district was solely due to his untiring zeal.
Umritsur.—The same difficulty has been met with in the city
as was reported by Dr. Garden in his Annual Report for 1869, no
assistance has been given by the Municipality.
In December 1869, Dr. Garden laid before the Committee a
plan for vaccinating the city, similar to that adopted in the Jullun-
dur city (mentioned in the Report for 1869) which proved so suc-
cessful in that and other cities in which it has been tried, viz., to
divide the city into portions according to the number of Native
Members of the Municipality, and to entertain two vaccinators on
Rupees 10 each, a month, placing them under the orders and super-
intendence of the Municipality.
In April 1870, a reply was received to the following effect, that
the Committee agreed to the plan proposed, but they have not now
sufficient funds to pay for these arrangements, they also think that
this is not the season to commence vaccine operations and will be
ready to entertain the Superintendent General's proposal at the
proper season.
In November 1870, I addressed a letter to the Deputy Com-
missioner asking him to urge the Members of the Municipality to
take an interest in the work, and for each member to take a portion
of the city under his superintendence. No notice was taken of this
that I am aware of.
Small Pox becoming
epidemic in the City
of Umritsur.
On the 23rd December, I received a report from the Civil Sur-
geon that small pox had broken out in the city (some six dying
daily) I now enquired what steps had been taken to check the
spread of the disease and to get the people vaccinated, and referring
to my letter written in November.
In January I received a translation of remarks made by the
Native Members, making objection to the mode of carrying on vacci-
nation and to the Establishment of Vaccinators at work there, that
they were ignorant and ill paid men, &c, to which I replied and show-
ed them their objections were untenable. In February I received a
docket from the Secretary Municipal Committee, asking me to put
the vaccinators in communication with the Native Members of the
Municipality at their next meeting, with a view to establishing Vac-
cinating Depots. I at once complied and hoped at last some
assistance was about to be given, but on the contrary the work, if
possible was more unsatisfactory.