xiv
GENERAL REPORT.
people. Persons, families or villages may, on this account, remain unvaccinated.
This difficulty will also be overcome in time, and the local authorities are
evidently negotiating a compromise which will be naturally satisfactory.
Success of the move-
ment in Sing-
bhoom and Maun-
bhoom.
Messrs. Manook and Wilson, the Civil Surgeons of Singbhoom and Maun-
bhoom, are entitled to much credit for the interest and energy they have mani-
fested in promoting this useful movement. It has now arrived at a stage at
which it may be pronounced an institution, and all that appears to be necessary
now is to provide the men with a small subsistence allowance while they are
learning, and to appoint a vaccine inspector for each district, whose duty it
will be to assist the men in establishing a good vesicle, to supervise and aid
them in their work, to verify their returns, and ensure the quality of their
vaccination. Mr. Manook's proposal to furnish the men with forms of register
and returns with vernacular headings, is reasonable.
Sonthal Pergunnahs:
summary of re-
sults.
45. Sonthal Pergunnahs.—Sub-Assistant Surgeon, Kali Krishna Ghose, has
submitted a long report of his proceedings. The establishment at his disposal
underwent no changes, the number of vaccinations performed was in excess of
any previous year, amounting to 11,071 against 8,352, and the successful opera-
tions amounted to 10,490 against 7,561. Each of the six vaccinators employed,
performed on an average, 1845 operations against 1392 in 1871-72. The per-
centage of successful cases amounted to 95.08 against 90.86, and while the gross
cost of the establishment was Rs. 2,687 against Rs. 2,453, the cost of each
successful case was annas 4-1.2 against annas 4-8.42. The results of the season
are therefore satisfactory as compared with the previous year.
General sketch of the
season's work.
46. The vaccinators worked mainly in the south-western parts of the
Sub-division of Rajmehal and northern part of Pakour, and an effort was made
to concentrate the work and carry it on in continuation of that of previous
years. A small amount of work was done in the Godda Sub-division, and
outbreaks of small-pox in Rajmehal, more particulary towards the close of the
season, necessitated the performance of vaccination at several detached and
isolated spots at various distances from the area of systematic operations.
A good deal of opposition was encountered, more particularly in Pakour, and
appears to have been overcome by various modes of persuasion. Much moral
support was derived from the civil authorities, but it is clear that until inocu-
lation is prohibited by law, the work of the establishment will be liable to
derangement from two causes, namely, the lingering fondness for an old custom
and the interested efforts of inoculators to disparage vaccination, and the
necessity of deputing the vaccinators to protect communities among whom
small-pox has been lighted up by inoculation.
Inspection.
47. Baboo Kali Krishna Ghose has evidently worked with enthusiasm
and energy during the past season. His inspection of the work of his vacci-
nators has been thorough and satisfactory, about 90 per cent. of the operations
performed having been compared with the register, and the percentage of
success deduced from the returns more than verified.
Small-pox.
48. Small-pox was rather prevalent in the Sub-divisions of Rajmehal and
Pakour during the last three months of the season. The outbreaks seem to
have been lighted up for the most part by inoculation and caused by infection
conveyed from villages where inoculation had been practised. Much good
appears to have been accomplished by setting up vaccination in the affected
localities.
Inoculation.
49. Inoculation is still practised in some parts of Rajmehal. The
deputy superintendent points out how the practice opposes the progress of
vaccination, and recommends its prohibition by law. The town of Deoghur
is the only part of the Sonthal Pergunnahs to which Act IV of 1865 has
been extended. The sub-division of Rajmehal has now been about half
vaccinated, and comparing its population with the vaccination of the past