ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS,
PRESIDENCY CIRCLE.
WESTERN DISTRICTS—BURDWAN DIVISION.
Burdwan district.
Burdwan
munici-
pality.
Trained inoculators.
Small-pox.
Burdwan District.—This district is included in the area of the Metropolitan circles,
and, as Dr. Goopta has described in his report, a large amount of vaccination was performed
to the south-east and north-west of the district by the vaccinators belonging to these
circles. Dr. French endeavoured to vaccinate within the limits of the Burdwan municipality.
He engaged a vaccinator on Rs. 10 on 1st November, but he absconded. After a vain
application to the Superintendent-General, he appointed two vaccinators on the 1st of
January, and the sub-assistant surgeon attached to the dispensary taught and supervised
them. Only 74 people were vaccinated ( against 10 in 1871,) with a percentage of 68 suc-
cessful cases. Operations were confined within municipal limits, and the sub-assistant
surgeon accompanied the vaccinators to the people's houses. The inhabitants were unwill-
ing to be vaccinated. Inoculation is not, however, practised in the town. Three inoculators
were trained—two of them were appointed vaccinators, and the third certified. He intends
practising in his own village. There was very little small-pox in the district—a few sporadic
cases, but no epidemic. Dr. French hopes for better success next season.
Chuckdighee.
The returns of branch dispensaries are blank, and no report is submitted, except from
Chuckdighee. Sub-Assistant Surgeon Cassy Kinkur Mitter states that inoculation has
become very rare and is seldom heard of. Two cases of confluent small-pox occurred in
the persons of pilgrims who had returned from Gya. Precautions were taken to prevent
spreading, and no other cases occurred.
Bancoorah.
Bancoorah District.—The operations in this district have been on a large scale. The
report submitted by Mr. Connolly, the civil surgeon, is lengthy, but on account of the
importance of the proceedings which it records it is re-produced in extenso:—
Government vacci-
nator
" 1. Government vaccinator.—During the year under report, there was but one Gov-
ernment vaccinator employed in connection with the dispensary on a salary of Rs. 10
per month.
Municipal.
"Municipal.—One
vaccinator was engaged for the town of Rajogram ( two miles south
of Bancoorah) from the 30th December 1872 to the 31st March 1873. He was paid
Rs. 10 monthly.
" 2. The Government vaccinator, Gunga Narain Acharjee, being an excellent operator,
and possessing great influence amongst the people of the district, was employed in estab-
lishing inoculators instructed at the dispensary in their old beats within the areas defined,
starting vaccination, and supervising operations.
" He worked with untiring zeal, and contributed much by his tact, patience and energy
in bringing about the results obtained : being a man of good family, and having worked as
an inoculator for upwards of 20 years in the district, he is well known and held in great
esteem by all classes.
" During this officer's absence in the interior, the dispensary work was carried on by the
hospital assistant, aided by the municipal vaccinator of Rajogram and gangs of in-
oculators under instruction.
" The municipal vaccinator of Rajogram was employed late in the season he com-
menced well, but unfortunately the Peeta Poojahs falling in January 1873, and a sudden
outbreak of cholera occurring in some portions of the town in the latter end of February,
the work was seriously impeded for a considerable time.
" On the abatement of cholera, operations were resumed, but to no great extent, as the
season had advanced, and the people being depressed, were averse to its continuance.
" Taking into consideration these drawbacks, and the difficulties attending a new field of
operation, particularly in a large town composed chiefly of very orthodox Hindoos, notably
wealthy, the work done may be set down as fair. Next year there is every prospect of a