GENERAL REPORT.
xxiii
from attack. The reports of Civil Surgeons also indicate that the results of
mortuary registration are very unreliable, all kinds of eruptive diseases being
entered under the head of small-pox.
Sketch of the preva-
lence of the disease
throughout the
provinces.
66. In commenting on the different circles I have already remarked on
the diminished prevalence of small-pox of which they bear evidence. When
outbreaks were reported, much good appears to have been done by the system
of "stamping out"—promptly vaccinating all the unprotected.
Calcutta
has remained very free of the disease, and the districts embraced in the Metro-
politan circles have also had very little small-pox. There was no epidemic
in Bancoorah, but in Midnapore a severe outbreak occurred in the Moynah
Pergunnah which seems to have been " stamped out" through Dr. Mathew's
energetic efforts. Jessore, where inoculation prevails unchecked, suffered little,
but Dr. Goopta shows that outbreaks in Nuddea were due to inoculation in
the border district. In the Rajshahye division no remarkable prevalence of
small-pox was observed, and the Orissa division appears also to have enjoyed
an immunity from epidemics. In the Dacca division the usual amount of
inoculation-caused small-pox seems to have occurred. The city of Dacca
remained almost free of the disease during the year. There was a severe out-
break at Dakinshabazpore in Backergunge, and the disease seems to have
been comparatively severe in Mymensing. The reports from the Chittagong
division contain nothing remarkable, and in Assam, where inoculation is more
unequally and fitfully conducted, there appears to have been in each district
occasional severe outbreaks. In the Patna, Cooch Behar and Bhaugulpore
divisions no epidemic prevailed. The disease became rather common in and
around Bhaugulpore towards the close of the season. In the Chota Nagpore
division there was less small-pox than in previous years, and it is remarkable
that in the two districts—Singbhoom and Manbhoom—where the greatest
success in converting inoculators to vaccination has been attained, there was
less of the disease than in Hazareebaugh and Loharduggah. I am indebted
to Surgeon Major C. J. Jackson, M. D., Officiating Sanitary Commissioner for
Bengal, for the table ( No. VII) appended to this report, showing the number
of deaths from small-pox reported month by month in each district of Bengal
during the Calendar year. The results generally tally with the written reports.
It is very satisfactory to find the Burdwan, Presidency, and Rajshahye divisions
exhibiting such small figures. The Patna and Orissa divisions and Assam show
the highest figures. On the whole, the year must be considered a favorable
one as far as small-pox is concerned.
Inoculation still pre-
vails very gene-
rally.
67. Inoculation.—The abstracts of the reports of Civil Surgeons con-
tain information regarding the prevalence of the practice of inoculation in
each district. The general impression gained from a perusal of these notes
is, that the practice is still very prevalent throughout the whole of Bengal.
In some cases it has been discontinued in and around the civil station, but
is still pursued unchecked in the interior. There is an almost entire absence of
information regarding the mortality direct and indirect of the practice. It is in
most cases done secretly, and it is most difficult to ascertain accurate facts
regarding it. Still, looking to the great importance of the enquiry, I think
Civil Surgeons and their subordinates might collect now and again some facts
on the subject. The districts, where inoculation is not practised or on the
decline, are:—Calcutta and Metropolitan circles very rare; Bancoorah much
diminished; Midnapore, very little inoculation now practised ; Darjeeling
circle, not so universal ; Arrah diminished ; Monghyr, Bhaugulpore and Sonthal
Pergunnahs much diminished; Chota Nagpore division seldom practised.
Instruction of inocu-
lators.
68. Instruction of Inoculators.—Much progress has been made in this
direction; more particularly in the districts of Bancoorah, Midnapore, Kam-
roop, Patna, Arrah, Chumparun, Monghyr, Bhagulpore, Sonthal Pergunnahs,
Singbhoom and Maunbhoom. Full particulars are given below. To facilitate
and perfect the system, a subsistence-allowance should be given to the men