ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
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good season's work being accomplished, as many of the inoculators of the town have, since
the appointment of the vaccinator, come forward and received instructions willingly; hitherto,
they could not be induced to learn, and steadily opposed it.
Scene of operations.
" With a view to giving effect to the Inspector-General of Hospital's instructions
contained in the report published on vaccination for 1871-72, the thannahs of Chatna,
Bancoorah and Bissenpore, were selected for operations at the commencement of the
working season.
Why chosen
'' The object in choosing these thannahs as centres was, that operations were commenced
in them last year; they lie in a direct line from east to west, in the order noted, and are the
most populous: each has its Rajbaree, with the usual amount of influential attendants;
and if once a belt of vaccination could be successfully established across the district, the
extension of operations to the north and south at a future period would not be attended
with much difficulty.
" The area being only about 50 miles in length and 20 in breadth, offered every facility
for the work of supervision being efficiently carried out.
Aid rendered by
civil authorities
" The civil authorities, I am glad to have it to report, rendered most cordial assistance
throughout the season. I would here particularly mention the Moonsiff of Bissenpore,
Koylash Chandra Mookerjee, who took great interest in the work; much of the success
attained there is due to his personal influence and great exertions.
" No appreciable aid was received from any of the leading members of the native com-
munity ; they are extremely prejudiced, and in some places directly opposed to vaccination.
Ex-inoculators
" In addition to the two paid vaccinators, 44 instructed inoculators were at work in the
district. Thirty-eight of these were employed in the defined areas, and six were deputed
north as pioneers in the Gungajulghatty division, with a view to familiarise the people there
with vaccination for the ensuing season.
" The inhabitants of this thannah being Kanouj Brahmins are most strenuously
opposed to vaccination, on the score of the virus used being taken from the cow. Nothing
but time will remove these caste prejudices.
" The men sent there were old inoculators of the place; being new to the work they had
undertaken it was not deemed advisable to hamper them with any instructions as to registers,
&c, so they were simply told to go and set to work in their old beats, merely furnishing
a report of their whereabouts and noting any operations they might have succeeded in per-
forming to enable the work being verified.
Number vaccinated.
'' This arrangement was attended with fair results ; they have made a commencement,
and vaccinated 119 successfully.
Causes of delay in
starting work.
" The work of vaccination was not fairly commenced until late in January, this was
owing to the difficulties which existed in obtaining an adequate supply of lymph and crusts
to start a large body of inoculators simultaneously, and to the late arrival of the iustruct-
ed inoculators, who, knowing that the people would not accept of vaccination until the
rice harvest and Peetah Poojahs were over, delayed coming in. This, it is to be hoped, will
not occur again, as the men have promised faithfully to be in on the 1st October next.
" The vaccinators employed in the defined areas were provided with certificates of com-
petency, bearing my signature and the official seal of the magistrate, on condition that
they would furnish a weekly register of operations, showing the name, father's name, resi-
dence, sex, age, date of operation and result; and, further, that their work should be
closely supervised; this being agreed to, they were established in areas assigned to them,
and made to understand thoroughly the principles of good exhaustive work. On this
score, however, I have no apprehension, as from time immemoral inoculation has been con-
ducted on this principle and the people know no other; any change under this head would
be attended with as much difficulty as vaccination itself.
" The Government vaccinator, with a gang of apprentices, was always kept on the move
in establishing newly taught vaccinators, instructing those under his charge, and starting
vaccination in localities where the people were opposed to it. Where he failed in overcom-
ing the prejudices of the people, I at once visited the locality, and held meetings of the
leading members with the instructed inoculators of the place; this mode of procedure was
attended with satisfactory results as I invariably succeeded, though not without some
trouble, in having the work of vaccination fully established before I left.
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