DARJEELING CIRCLE.
25
Each vaccinator performed 2,744 primary operations, which, considering the illness of
the native superintendent in November and of one of the most experienced vaccinators
nearly the whole season, is satisfactory.
Ex-inoculators.
The birth rate of this district is about 20,000 per annum. The average number of
operations for the last two years reaches this sum, besides there are thirteen inoculators now
practising vaccination, eight of whom were instructed this season. They have chosen their
own ground for operation, and are fairly distributed over the district. Twelve of them
return 6313 operations for 1872-73. These added to the 16,469 of the Government vacci-
nators exceeds the birth rate. They have not been verified which is very necessarry to
obtain a good standard of work.
Prohibition of in-
oculation advocat-
ed.
I think a case has been made out for the introduction of the act forbidding inoculation
into this district, and the establishment of licensed vaccinators in areas already gone over
by the Government gang. The people, and especially the inoculators, would begin to think
that Government was in earnest about vaccination and a good impression be produced in
Bograh and all the neighbouring districts.
Rajshahye
8. Rajshahye.—Operations
were carried on in April, May, June and July on account
of small-pox, under the native superintendent of Bograh, and under a new native super-
intendent during the cold season whose activity raised the number of persons operated on
to 5302 per vaccinator.
Prohibition of in-
oculation in than-
nah Pooteah moot-
ed
Thannah Pooteah was completed with the exception of the town which is still im-
perfectly protected on account of the prejudices of the people. Outpost Aranee of Beel-
mariah thannah was completed and all outpost Doorgapore excepted a few villages.
This I think might be declared a protected area and inoculation forbidden under Act
IV. (B. C.) of 1865, and licensed vaccinators established.
Local vaccinators.
The Prossononath fund at Nattore supported one vaccinator, who operated partly
in the town of Nattore but chiefly in a number of villages to the north of Digaputtrah
where the people stated that if vaccination was not given them they would send for
an inoculator.
The municipality of Nattore also supported a vaccinator, so did the municipality of
Rampore Beauleah. Their returns will be submitted by the civil surgeon.
Maldah.
9. Maldah.—There has been a satisfactory advance in the number of operations
during the season, but the prejudice against vaccination appears strong and will require
years to break down. Each vaccinator operated on 1679 persons against 842 last year.
The town of Maldah, the left bank of the Mahanuddee to the south and the country
on the right bank to south of the town for about six miles was the scene of operations.
Several villages, however, had to be passed over from the people declining to be vaccinated.
Number and char-
acter
of opera-
tions
10. Number and character of operations.—There is a decrease from the previous year
in the number of operations of 53700 arising from vaccination having been much less prac-
tised during the hot months of 1872 than in 1871 on account of small-pox being much less
prevalent, and no municipal vaccinator's returns being included.
Average of success.
The cold season's operations, however, in 1872-73 are 10,547 greater than in the cold
season of 1871-72, with a corresponding rise in the quality of the work. The average of
persons successfully vaccinated in 1872-73 is 95.71 against 81.18 in 1871-72, an improve-
ment of 14.53 per cent which shows the advantage of practising the operations as little as
possible in the hot months.
Every vaccinator in the circle operated on an average of 2474.39 persons.
Cost of each suc-
cessful case.
Each successful case costs 2 annas and ten pie.
The number of villages protected was 1292.
A rough sketch map of the circle shewing the work of this and previous years is
attached. On such a small scale it is difficult to give the areas exactly but they are fairly
indicated.
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