ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
67
Work done by
them.
8. The practice here is, when an inoculator applies for a license to vaccinate, for either the
Civil Surgeon or Sub-Assistant Surgeon (or, in the sub-division, for the hospital assistant,) to
examine the man as to his qualifications, and if these are satisfactory, to grant him a pass
enabling him to vaccinate; if he be not qualified, he is, if willing to learn, taught at the
dispensary. The amount of work performed by these men cannot be satisfactorily
ascertained, for the simple reason that there are no means of compelling them to furnish returns,
nor is there any inducement for them to do so. In some instances they have, however,
brought work for inspection. Seven of these men returned 264 cases up to 31st December,
and 8 men returned 220 children in the month of March. The Sub-Assistant Surgeon
of the Patna dispensary has occasionally inspected their work in the houses where they per-
formed it. Altogether 55 passes have been granted to inoculators during the last two seasons.
I regret to state that one of these men was lately caught inoculating in the city, and on
conviction was sentenced to one month's simple imprisonment by the Deputy Magistrate of
Patna, a punishment which it appears to me was quite inadequate to put a stop to the practice.
I have brought this to the notice of the civil authorities.
Small-pox.
9. Small-pox has not prevailed to any extent during the past season; this satisfactorily
accounts for a slight falling off in the number vaccinated as compared with 1870-71, when there
was a serious outbreak of small-pox at the commencement of the season in one part of the
city, which greatly alarmed the people and induced them to apply in numbers to be vaccinated.
10. Next season I hope to be able to furnish more extended statistics for the subjoined
table. The particulars given below are derived from a daily inspection for a certain number
days of all the patients presenting themselves at the dispensaries of Patna and Bankipore ;
also from an inspection of all the prisoners in the Meetapore Jail.
Vaccine census.
Class of persons examined.
Meetapore Jail Prisoners ...
Bankipore Dispensary ...
Patna Dispensary
...
...
Total ...
Number
examined
414
138
354
906
Inocu-
lated.
245
04
69
878
Percent of
total
examined
59.17
46.38
19.49
41.7
Vaccin-
ated
2
17
25
44
Per cent. of
total
examined
48
12.31
7.06
4.85
Had
small¬
pox
166
38
213
417
Percent of
total
examined.
4.0
27.5
60.1
46.02
Unpro-
tected.
1
19
47
67
Percent of
total
examined.
.24
13.7
13.2
7.39
11. The vaccinators on the whole have worked well during the past season. I have
again to bring native vaccinator Gowri Tewaree of the city dispensary prominently to notice.
He is a most zealous servant, and on more than one occasion has been the means of putting
a stop to inoculation in the city by handing the inoculators up to justice. The falling off
in numbers in the city dispensary, as compared with last year, is to be partly accounted
for by the transfer of one of the vaccinators to Bankipore, which had formerly only 3 men
attached to it.
Gya.
Gya.—Dr. C. M. Russell reports that two vaccinators were employed
throughout the year, paid by Government at Rs. 10 a month, and one man paid
at the same rate by the Gya Municipality from 1st November to 31st March.
Operations were confined to the stations of Gya, Sherghotty, and Nowada; they
were limited to the stations, but by no means exhaustive. The Deputy Magistrate
of Nowada gave great assistance. The Civil Surgeon inspected the work as
often as he could. More vaccinations were performed than in the previous
year, and the success was better. The people are very averse to vaccination;
inoculation is practised very generally in the district. The death-rate is about
2 or 3 per cent. Inoculators did not come forward to be taught; they were quite
ready to take perwannahs, but there was no security that they would practise
vaccination, and perwannahs were not given. No small-pox prevailed during
the year. The following particulars regarding protection are given:—
Vaccine census.
Class of persons ex-
amined.
Prisoners of Gya jail
(a)—Under trial ...
(b)—Convicted
Government
school-
boys
...
...
...
Number
examined
626
373
152
Inoculated
271
185
90
Per cent.
of total
examined.
51.52
49.59
65.1
Vaccinated
......
......
6
Per cent.
of total
examined.
......
......
4
Had small
pox.
150
123
42
Per cent.
of total
examined.
28.51
32.97
27.6
Unpro-
tected.
105
65
5
Per cent.
of total
examined.
19.96
17.42
3.3