ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
55
would starve. Small-pox prevailed in February, March and April 1872 in two villages in
the Bhangchatta thannah, 14 persons died out of 70 attacked. The people would not
accept vaccination.
In December it again broke out in these villages. Vaccination was
established through the agency of the native doctors of the Oochkurn and Shajapore
endemic dispensaries. Small-pox broke out towards the close of the year in the north of the
district, and at Teelpara, a village about a mile from the station.
Midnapore
trict.
Arrangements sanc¬
tioned by Govern-
-ent.
Midnapore District.—During the seasons 1869-70 and 1871-72 an effort was made
by Dr. Mathew, the civil surgeon, to promote vaccination by instructing inoculators in the
art and inducing them to change the one practice for the other. The success of his
efforts in this direction is detailed in previous reports, (see report for 1871-72, page 44).
His efforts during the past season have been conducted on a larger scale and in a more
systematic manner. A narrative of his proceedings is furnished in the following report:—
" 1. In a letter from the Bengal Government, to the address of the Inspector-General,
No. 4172, dated the 19th of September 1872, Rs. 1,062 was sanctioned for the season's
expenditure, which sum was thus disposed of:
For 16 trained vaccinators a retaining fee of Rs. 2 each for six months... Rs.
Two instructing vaccinators, at Rs. 15 each, for six months, and
Rs. 7-8-0 for remaining half year, amounting to
...
...
„
A tent
..
...
...
..
..
...
... „
And a personal allowance of Rs. 50 for six months was granted to me
„
Total Rs. ...
192
270
300
300
1,062
Preparations for the
season's work
'' 2. Early in October the 16 vaccinators were sent for, and arrangements were made
for the season's work. The names of the villages where each man proposed working were
ascertained, and some other minor matters of detail being settled, the men were placed in
the charge of the instructing vaccinators, whose duty it was to see that each man was
supplied with sound lymph, and that a genuine vesicle was established before he commenced
working.
" 3. Lymph was procured from children vaccinated in the town of Midnapore, where
a supply of virus has now been kept up for the last four years at all seasons.
Prevalence of fever
retarded the work.
"4. Early in November the instructing vaccinators reported that the 16 men under
their charge had all commenced work, but that they were making rather slow progress,
owing to the prevalence of fever in many of the villages. Malarial fever usually attend-
ant on the rainy season was widely spread through the low lands of the district during
the past season, and it is needless to say that no attempt was made to introduce vaccina-
tion into the villages where the epidemic fever prevailed
Lymph supply
" 5. Interruptions thus caused gave much trouble, owing to difficulties connected with
the lymph supply; and as I only permitted vaccination to be carried out on the arm-to-
arm system, the time lost in procuring a supply of virus was very great. Were the work
carried on by means of tubes, or from crusts, the results, with reference to the mere numbers
operated on, would have been far more encouraging; but it is well known how very inferior
and faulty the character of the vaccination thus produced, even in the hands of most
experienced and skilful operators, almost invariably is, and it is certainly a system that
should not be encouraged in the remotest degree when dealing with the agency at my
disposal. The objections raised by parents to allowing the matter to be taken from the
arms of the children at times almost brought the work to a stand-still. The men, as a
rule, offered slight opposition; but the women, however, were very troublesome, and not
unfrequently broke the vesicles on the arms of the children lest the matter should be
taken when the vesicles became mature. I have found it necessary on more occasions
than one to speak to the head men of villages in pretty strong terms regarding this
absurd and obstructive proceeding, and the women thus offending have been occasionally
remonstrated with by their husbands in a manner more remarkable for the fortiter in
re than the swaviter in modo.
Number vaccinated.
"6. The appended Table marked A shows the number vaccinated by the trained men
during the season. The character of the vaccination has been, on the whole, satisfactory,
and the men worked willingly, particularly towards the end of the season. The figures,
I think, are fairly reliable, and have been occasionally tested, but not so often as I con-
sider necessary.
Disputes regarding
fees.
" 7. Disputes between the people and the vaccinators with reference to payment have
required adjustment. The villagers argued that, in former years, they were vaccinated