ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
69
Tirhoot.
Four inoculators
instructed.
Tirhoot.—Dr. Meredith reports that three vaccinators—two paid by Govern-
ment and one by the municipality—are employed at Mozufferpore. The muni-
cipalities of Durbungah and Hajeepore each employ a vaccinator. The number
of operations performed during 1871-72 is considerably above that of the previ-
ous season. Mozufferpore was divided into three sections, to each of which a
vaccinator was appointed. His work was inspected by the Civil Surgeon. The
Joint-Magistrate took a vaccinator with him on his tour through the district,
and 382 persons were vaccinated in this way. There is still a great prejudice
against the operation in Tirhoot. In municipalities inoculation is prohibited,
but throughout the district the practice is common. Dr. Meredith instructed
four inoculators, who practised vaccination in some villages in the neighbour-
hood of Mozufferpore. No particulars are given of the amount or quality of
their work. The Civil Surgeon states that this district is so completely under
the control of European planters, that with their assistance no serious difficulty
need be expected in introducing vaccination throughout it. The hospital
assistant at Tajpore and Sub-Assistant Surgeon at Mudhoobanee vaccinated
respectively 48 and 96 persons.
Sarun.
Sarun.—Dr. R,. Macleod details the operations of the year in the following
report:—
Inoculators vaccin-
ating.
Causes of smaller
outturn.
2. Vaccination is carried on in the town and district by a staff of nine men. There
are three principal vaccinators attached to the dispensary, of whom two are paid by the
municipality and one by the Government. There are also six men appointed temporarily
and paid by the municipality. Besides the regular staff there were a number of old
inoculators, who were supplied with lymph, and who carried on their operations in the interior
of the district and removed from European supervision. These men submitted no returns,
and the result of their labors is unknown. The total number vaccinated was 2,334 ; of
these 2,052 were successful, 268 unsuccessful, and the result was unknown in 14 cases. This
return contrasts unfavourably with that of last year. This is in my opinion attributable
to two causes, viz. 1st, the more constant and strict supervision exercised by the superin-
tendent tended to the greater accuracy and trustworthiness of the returns ; and 2nd, that
the area and population among which vaccination has been carried on for years past has not
been much extended, and that consequently the number available for vaccination neces-
sarily become fewer year by year. For next season I have the promise of a vaccinator for
Huthwa.
Prejudices.
Prohibition of ino-
culation desir-
able
3. Vaccination is not very popular except in this town and in Sewan, where it is carried
on more or less under European supervision. Even in the villages adjacent to Chuprah the
practice met with great opposition; in some villages the opposition met with was so strong
that I was obliged to withdraw the vaccinator. In one village, only six miles distant from the
town, the people positively refused to allow vaccination though in an adjoining village the people
readily availed themselves of it. In the first-mentioned village the people said that the
practice was new to them and that it was dangerous to life. In order to do away with this
erroneous idea, and to demonstrate the harmlessness of the practice, I had several newly
vaccinated children brought from the last-named village, but even that failed to convince
them, and I had consequently to withdraw the vaccinator. A great deal of the opposition
experienced arises out of the action of the village inoculators, who for their own ends
do everything in their power to set the people against it. The practice of inoculation could
be suppressed by Government without much opposition on the part of the people, who,
as a rule, readily acquiesce in any measure of this kind instituted under the authority
of the Government. In places where the people have the means of vaccination placed at
their disposal, it is very desirable that the practice of inoculation should be prohibited,
as it is within the limits of the town, and where, in consequence, I was enabled to obtain
a conviction against an inoculator who was sentenced by the Joint-Magistrate to three
months' rigorous imprisonment with hard labour, whereas in the villages near Chuprah,
where this law is not in force, inoculation was practised with impunity.
Chumparun.
Two inoculators
vaccinating.
Chumparun.—Dr. Cullen reports that operations in and immediately around
Moteeharee have been conducted by a Government vaccinator paid Rs. 10 a
month. Two inoculators trained to practise vaccination by the Civil Surgeon
worked in the interior within a radius of 20 miles. They met with opposition
from other inoculators, who tried to prejudice the people against them, but
with a little encouragement and assistance from the Civil Surgeon they worked
well. Their proceedings were frequently inspected by Dr. Cullen, who found
the results to be satisfactory. Twenty inoculators were instructed; but only
three had adopted vaccination as a practice. No small-pox broke out in the
district during the year. If inoculation were prohibited and converted
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