Fifth Annual Report of the Metropolitan Circles of vaccination for the year ending 31st
March 1873, by ASSISTANT SURGEON K. P. GUPTA, M. B., Officiating
Superintendent.
Superintendents.
1. Constitution of the establishment.—There have been several changes in the estab-
lishment during the year under report. Dr. Powell, the Superintendent, took two years'
furlough and left for Europe in the month of May, making over charge to Dr. Cayley, who
continued to officiate till 26th October when I relieved him.
The three deputy superintendents have remained the same as before.
Increase of estab-
lishment
The strength of the establishment has been considerably increased by the addition of
one head vaccinator, seven vaccinators, and eight apprentices to each circle, in accordance
with Bengal Government's letter No. 3212, dated the 25th July 1872; so there are now
altogether, twelve head vaccinators, seventy eight vaccinators, and twenty-four apprentices.
The full staff of extra men was entertained from 1st September 1872.
Changes.
Changes among head vaccinators.—In
the first circle, head vaccinator Dinnonauth
Dass who had been reported ill throughout the whole of the previous season, died in June,
and Khetter Mohun Bose was appointed in his place. Tarakanto Gangulee was appointed
to the new head vaccinatorship. In the second circle, Soorjeecoomar Chuckerbutty was
appointed to the additional head vaccinatorship. In the third circle, head vaccinator
Romanauth Ghosal who had been deputed to Dacca in 1871, returned last year and joined his
old post, and Toylukhonauth Chuckerbutty, who had officiated for Romanath Ghosal, was
promoted to the additional head vaccinatorship.
Among the ordinary vaccinators there have been some changes. In the first circle the
deputy superintendent was obliged to dismiss three men for misconduct and neglect of
duty, and to appoint new men in their places.
Deaths
Deaths.—Two good vaccinators were lost to the department during the year; one
Koylash Chunder Chuckerbutty died of cholera in thannah Bistoopore, where the disease
raged for some time, and another Dhurmo Dass Mookerjee died of the Burdwan fever in
that ill-fated district. Both died at their posts while doing their work fearlessly in the
midst of sickness and death.
One apprentice died of fever and dysentery in the Nuddea district. Another appien¬
tice had to be sent away because he was very ill. Nothing has been heard of him since.
Employment of vac-
cinators
during
the non-working
season.
2. Employment of vaccinators in the last non-working season.—In accordance with
Bengal Government's letter No. 2129, dated 8th July 1871, one-half of the vaccinators
were granted privilege leave for two months, and the other half were sent to work in
dispensaries. They were excused from acting as dressers, they had to act as compounders
The men did not dislike the work of compounding so much as they did that of dressing,
still the practice was calculated to do harm to the department, inasmuch as some of the
vaccinators having learnt some smattering of medicines were about to resign and set
themselves up as native doctors. This was happily obviated by the timely interposition of
the deputy superintendent.
On the strong representation of Dr. Powell which was also supported by the Inspector
General of Hospitals. Government has since reversed the order. The vaccinators will hence-
forth not be required to go and work in dispensaries during the non-working season, and
will be allowed leave at the discretion of the superintendent. This order was hailed by
them with great joy, but their joy gave way to other feelings when they heard that a part
of their pay was to be cut during the time they would be unemployed.
Plan of work
3. The plan of work for the season 1872-73.—In the month of June, Dr. Cayley pro-
posed and laid before Government, the following plan of operations for the season :
"That two circles should go to the north half of Nuddea, where are 14thannahs still to
be done, and that from one of these circles a gang or division of 1 head and 7 ordinary
vaccinators should be detached to the northern parts of Neamutpore and Raneegunge.
The remaining or third circle to be employed in the south of the 24-Pergunnahs, in Govind¬
pore and the neighbouring thannahs and across in Hooghly as far as Chunderkona, and take
in Goghat and Jehanabad and if possible, detaching one division under a head vaccinator
to Kullingah and Sathkira thannahs."