ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
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CENTRAL DISTRICTS.—PRESIDENCY DIVISION.
The whole of this division, except the district of Jessore, is within the Metropolitan
circles; the whole of Nuddea has now been thoroughly vaccinated and the most of the 24-
Pergunnahs. Operations were principally confined to Nuddea during the past season,—a
few thannahs to the south-west of the 24-Perguunahs being also thoroughly protected.
24-Pergunnahs.
24-Pergunnahs District.—No vaccinators have been attached to dispensaries since the
Metropolitan circles were organised, and the municipalities obtain a skilled operator for the
whole or part of the season from the superintendent of the Metropolitan circles. The
work of these men is supervised by the officers of the Metropolitan establishment and the
local Medical officers. Dr. Cayley, in a special report dated 6th December 1872, considers
this system more efficient than entertaining dispensary vaccinators. In a previous report,
dated 6th October, Dr. Cayley gave the result of operations recorded in the Alipore, Bhow¬
anipore and Garden Reach dispensaries, and in the Baraset, Busseerhaut, Goberdangah
and Satkheerah dispensaries. The results and the conclusions drawn by Dr. Cayley from
them are as follows :—
Vaccine census.
" 3. The total number of cases registered in the suburbs was 4,191, of these 773 or
18.4 per. cent had been vaccinated.
" 910 or 21.7 per cent. inoculated; 1,618 or 38.5 per cent. had had small-pox, and 890,
or 21.2 per cent., were unprotected.
Rural and suburban
results contrasted.
"In the rural districts, out of a total of 3,488 people noted. 496 or 14 per cent. were
vaccinated ; 2,473 or 70.7 per cent. were inoculated ; 244, or 7 per cent., had had small-
pox ; and 295, or 8.3 per cent. were unprotected.
"4. Such returns taken from dispensary patients are not of course an exact
representation of the condition of the people at large; but still as all the poorer classes
attend the dispensaries—and the district dispensaries especially are attended by all the
ordinary agricultural and laboring population—one may from these returns form a very
fair estimate of the degree of protection against small-pox enjoyed by the people generally.
" 5. In the rural districts (none of which have been vaccinated within the last three
years, except very partially by municipal vaccinators last year,) only 8.3 per cent. of those
attending the dispensaries were unprotected. This is a satisfactory result, and shows that
vaccination was effectively carried on when the localities in question were undertaken.
" In the suburbs of Calcutta the results are not quite so good, but the population is a
very shifting and unsettled one, and much less within reach of the Calcutta vaccinators ;
and out of the 890 unprotected people at least 300 belonged to the followers of the
Oudh Princes in Garden Reach. This very large colony of unprotected people in the
immediate vacinity of Calcutta offers very dangerous material for a serious outbreak of
small-pox."
Nuddea district.
Small-pox.
Nuddea District.—Dr. Earle states that the municipalities of Kishnaghur, Santipore
and Ranaghat engaged vaccinators from the staff of the Metropolitan circles. From the
reports of the civil surgeon, and his subordinates, it appears that prejudice against vacci-
nation is disappearing in this district, and that the practice of inoculation has been put a
stop to. Small-pox broke out at Meherpore, Chooadangah and Kooxulgatchee, but the
localities where the disease appeared were systematically vaccinated, and it did not spread.
Jessore district.
Number vaccinated.
Jessore District.—Dr. Bowser reports that on receipt of Bengal Government resolu-
tion, dated 9th October 1872, he submitted a report to the magistrate on the subject of
extending vaccination in the district. The result was that five vaccinators were entertained
by the sudder dispensary and municipality, and one by each of the dispensaries at Sreedhur¬
pore, Nuldangah, Jhenidah, Magoorah and Narail. These men were late of starting work, as
it was necessary to train them in the first instance. They vaccinated 2,159 cases before the
close of the season. The work at the sudder station was supervised by the civil surgeon
and sub-assistant surgeon. Great and general opposition was encountered at Sreedhur¬
pore. Baboo Bepin Behary Bose, one of the zemindars of the locality, had himself vaccinated
as an example to the people. Two inoculators were taught, but did not succeed in obtaining
any subjects willing to be vaccinated. Dr. Bowser states that the work was " desultory
and indefinite." Inoculation is very generally practised in the district. Small-pox does not
appear to have been unusually prevalent during the year.