44
SONTHAL PERGUNNAHS.
means the disease was entirely prevented from spreading. In Rajmehal also one of my
vaccinators, named Anundo Lall, had acted very energetically in suppressing the spread of
small-pox. Information reached him one night of the occurrence of small-pox at Koolkha,
and the very night he went over a distance of 5 or 6 miles accompanied by Sonthals, and
the next morning vaccinated all the unprotected people of the village.
The principal vaccinator of my staff, Peary Mohun Dass, has also shown great tact
and energy at Kanklotea. Here in former years we had to give up our attempts after
operating on a few stray individuals, owing to the obstinate and unconquerable prejudices
of the people. The people would not by any means be persuaded to submit to the operation,
would deny or hide their children, and openly declare that they would not incur the wrath
of the goddess, who has been pleased to favor them with her presence, by introducing
any extraneous influences. They would rather die of small-pox than accept of vaccination.
It is, however, a matter of satisfaction to find that in a place like this where we had not
the least expectation of success, over a hundred and forty people have already been protected
by vaccination chiefly through the efforts of the vaccinator named above. And although
the number protected still falls very much short of the requirements of the place, yet,
considering all the circumstances, it cannot be denied that a great thing has been achieved.
I must, however, cordially acknowledge the kind and timely assistance rendered us by
Mr. C. A. S. Bedford, the Ex-Assistant Commissioner of Rajmehal, whose strict injunc-
tions to the mundel and chowkeydars have been of great service to us at Kanklotea.
I am now happy to be able to say that in all places mentioned above except one
(Koylabazaar) in Rajmehal, vaccination has been established ; and in most of them the
disease has been entirely stamped out by its influence.
Treatment of small-
pox by carbolic
acid
There is no circumstance so trying to those engaged in vaccination or so full of danger
to its cause as the prosecution of the work in a place where small-pox is lighted up among
an ignorant and prejudiced people. The disease may be incubating in the systems of the
unprotected, ready to break out after vaccination is performed and before it had taken
effect. One such instance occurring might be sufficient to throw distrust upon vaccinators
and vaccination, and prove utterly destructive of its cause. Fully aware of this contingency
I took the precaution beforehand to warn my vaccinators of the danger they were liable
to incur by being too confident and hopeful and instructed them to let the people clearly to
understand that they were not free from the dangers of small-pox until the vesicles were
properly risen and the areola fully formed. And I am fortunate in being able to say that,
excepting the 8 cases already pointed out in which the disease appeared and ran its modified
course almost simultaneously with vaccination, no instances have come to my notice among
the cases mentioned, in which any of my vaccinated people have succumbed to the disease
although lying on the same bed with persons suffering from small-pox. I also feel pleasure in
stating that my instructions in regard to the treatment with carbolic oil have to a great
extent been carried out where permitted. I had directed a mixture of 1 part of carbolic
acid with 10 parts of cocoanut or mowha oil to be used in cases of small-pox where no
objection should be raised against its use. The two vaccinators Indro Narain and Rutty
Kanto give reports of twenty-four cases having been cured by it, and vaccinator Peary
Mohun Doss reports eight cures. I am not prepared to say that the cures are attributable to
the remedy and not to nature; but I had seen three or four cases at least, in an apparently
hopeless condition, which afterwards got well under its use. I am sorry my duties prevented
me from watching the treatment or I could have furnished the results in detail. But from
what I have been able to gather I am inclined to believe that it had no injurious or unplea-
sant effect, but had, in a few instances in which it was early administered, prevented
suppuration; and in advanced eases helped to destroy the fœtor and relieve disagreeable
sensations.
Inoculation
10. Inoculation.—Besides one village in Pakour and one in Rajmehal, where, as men-
tioned above, inoculation was practised and had given rise to a formidable epidemic of
small-pox, two more villages in Rajmehal sub-division situate near the town, were known
to have adopted the practice. I cannot, however, say that inoculation was not performed
in any other villages but that no more instances of its having been performed have come
to our notice.
The spread of vaccination in these quarters though it has, to a certain extent, checked,
has not yet been able to put out inoculation altogether. Nor can it be expected to do so
until many years have elapsed and vaccination is become general throughout the district.
This result cannot however, I am afraid, be attained until inoculation is checked. Wher-
ever vaccination is progressing the people are under the impression that inoculation has
been prohibited by Government. Were it not for this impression, I believe, vaccination
would scarcely have gained ground. Mere arguments and persuasions however strong or