Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in the Department of Agriculture, Revenue and
Commerce,—No. 957, dated 8th July 1872.
READ—
Report of the Officiating Superintendent-General of Vaccination. Punjab, for the year 1871-72, received
on the 13th June 1872.
REMARKS.—The Lieutenant-Governor observes that the operations of
the Punjab Vaccination Department have been this year considerably extended,
and trusts that this may indicate a greater appreciation by the Native community
of the benefits of the system.
2. The number of operations performed during the year was 273,425, as
compared with 221,449 last year ; whilst the percentage of successful operations
was 87 this year, as compared with 85 last year. The average cost of each
successful operation also has been reduced by one-half. This result is creditable
to the department.
3. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to observe that the new system of
causing the registers of vaccination to be checked and countersigned by the head-
men of the villages has had a good effect on the statistics of vaccination ; and, as
he notices that Civil Surgeons complain of their inability to test the returns of
dispensary vaccinations, he desires that the same system may be introduced in
the districts under their superintendence.
4. The Rája of Keonthal will be apprised that His Honor has noticed with
satisfaction the partial introduction of vaccination into his territory.
5. The insufficiently-protected state of the children in the Sanáwar Military
Asylum, when taken in connection with the similar condition of the Henry
Lawrence Memorial Asylum (as noticed last year), is a matter of concern. In
India it is absolutely necessary that all European children should be protected
by vaccination, and the attention of the Medical Authorities will again be. specially
drawn to this point.
6. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to hear that in Ludiánah the success
of vaccination has this year been so great. The help given by Rádhá Kishen
deserves commendation, and the Commissioner will be directed to bestow, on the
part of Government, a khillat on this gentleman.
7. The opposition met with in the Ambálah Perganah is, this year again,
a subject of unfavorable remark. The Lieutenant Governor notices with
displeasure how much this result is due to the conduct of the Tahsíldár. The
attention of the Commissioner will be drawn to the matter.
8. The decrease of vaccination in the Dehli District is a matter of deep
concern. The active opposition offered by the Tahsíldárs of Dehli and Larsauli,
to which Dr. Newton attributes his ill-success, should form the subject of a report
by the Commissioner. On the other hand, the people in parts of the Dehli
Division, about Sonipat and Kárnal, complained to the Lieutenant-Governor, when
passing through the district, of the manner in which vaccination was enforced,—
by the help of Police and Tahsíl chaprassies, so much so that when the visit of
a vaccinator to a village was anticipated the women left it with their children.
The views of the Government on the subject of compulsory vaccination are
known, and the Lieutenant-Governor trusts that no complaints, which enquiry
proved to be true, of a similar kind may be hereafter made. The advantages of
vaccination are so certain that they may be expected in time to be acknowledged
by the people. At the same time that educated officials of Government should
oppose the progress of vaccination is intolerable, and will meet, wherever proved,
with punishment.
9. The Lieutenant-Governor observes with pleasure the success which has
attended the employment of native female vaccinators in Gujrát. Whilst agreeing
with Dr. Newton that it is desirable to have their operations effectively supervised,
he yet observes that it would not be easy to manage, as those who would not
allow the Civil Surgeon to vaccinate them would hardly permit him to see
whether the operation had been successful.
His Honor considers that the
results of the experiment have been such that it is desirable to extend the
system.