ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
55
Efforts made to
overcome their
resistance un-
availing.
great numbers in Dacca, furnish nearly one-third, and the still lower caste, the Namusudra,
one-ninth. It is, however, neither the highest nor the lowest castes who are so tenacious of
their prejudices as the intermediate ones, such as Boisaks, Sâhs, Sankharis, and Kurmokurs.
Unfortunately these castes are the richest and most enterprising of the community, and their
example affects others. On the 19th January the Magistrate and I met the mattbars of the
mohullas where these castes predominate. We pointed out the necessity of having the
children and the poorer members among them protected against small-pox; and as Government
had prohibited inoculation, we demonstrated that it was desirable that they should consent to
adopt vaccination. The mattbars acquiesced and promised to exert their influence in get-
ting their neighbours to agree to have their children vaccinated. A day chosen by them-
selves was fixed, but, with few exceptions, the only children presented then were those of
the lowest castes residing in the quarter. On referring to the return it will be found that of
these influential and very prolific castes only 151 were vaccinated.
Compulsory vaccin-
ation necessary.
" It is hopeless by persuasion to overcome the deeply-rooted prejudices of these castes-
It has been attempted year after year without success. We must now either remain content
to have in our midst a large proportion of the population who in their domestic arrange-
ments and the structure of their houses are particularly liable to suffer severely during
epidemics of small-pox, or Government, having advanced a step further than it has yet done,
must make vaccination compulsory.
Entire absence of
small-pox from
Dacca during the
year.
" Several times during the past few months I have been warned of the presence of Rarhi
inoculators in Dacca, and hints have been given that it has been the practice of these castes
of late years to have inoculation performed within the recesses of their houses in defiance
of the law. I consulted with the Magistrate and District Superintendent, and we decided
on appointing a person to watch the proceedings of these visitors. Up to the present
time he has been unable to collect any evidence which would criminate them. The fact
that not a single case of small-pox has occurred in Dacca this year, is the best proof of the
falsity of these rumours.
Proceedings of the
season 1871-72.
Better agents em-
ployed.
" At the opening of the vaccinating season there were six vaccinators in the city of
Dacca—three being paid by Government, and three by the Municipality. As my experience of
the very unsatisfactory work done by these men had taught me that it was hopeless to
expect a change, I, with your sanction, and after giving them a fair opportunity of exhibiting
greater diligence, but without success, dismissed at different times four of the most incorri-
gible. Only two of the old men are now borne on the establishment. To fill the vacancies, I
communicated with the Superintendent of Vaccination, and Dr. Charles kindly placed
temporarily at my disposal three of the most intelligent and energetic of his establishment.
Unfortunately they did not arrive in Dacca till the 14th December, so that more than two
months of the cold season were lost. From that date until the 31st March six vaccinators
were employed. The number of individuals vaccinated has not been large; but as this should
be a very secondary object to the successful result of the operation, and as the return shows
a better percentage this year than in any former one, I am satisfied with the season's work.
Plan of work.
" The plan adopted for overcoming the unwillingness of the people to bring forward their
children was the following: The Magistrate issued orders for the mattbars of certain
mohullas to assemble at an appointed place. Mr. Lyall and I attended, and after discussing
vaccination with them, insisted on their fixing a day to have their children operated on. On the
appointed day the vaccinators were present, and all children brought were vaccinated. Again,
on the fourth or fifth day the children were mustered and inspected by either the House
Surgeon or myself, and I can with confidence assert that at least four-fifths of the 1,900
registered were examined by one or other of us. The extreme heat throughout the month
of October obliged me to delay the commencement of vaccination till the following month.
" The fast of Ramazan, which fell unusually late, interfered materially with vaccination
among the Mahomedans. As soon as it terminated, the children were readily produced.
Operations
con-
fined within mu¬
nicipal bounds
Inoculation prac¬
tised universally
in the district.
" During the past year I strictly confined the vaccinators within municipal limits;
there is plenty of work for them to do in the city; and by thus limiting their circuit, inspec-
tion is rendered more thorough, and there is less opportunity of framing fictitious returns.
" Inoculation, on the other hand, is all but universal in this district. One striking fact
in connection with it is, that although inoculation is practised yearly in every part of the
district, I cannot find in the records that any Civil Surgeon, however inimical he may have
been to the practice, has ever represented that epidemic of small-pox originated from the
work of the inoculators. At the outbreak of 1850 the inoculators, as has been mentioned,
were acquitted of the odium of having excited the epidemic in this district. I can vouch for
this fact, that since the introduction of the Inoculation Act into Dacca in 1866 there have
been two fatal epidemics of small-pox in the city, while the district has entirely escaped,
although inoculation has been actively pursued every year.
Mortality of ino-
culation.
" One of the gravest objections to the encouragement of inoculation is the mortality that
is said to attend it. That this mortality is over-estimated, I am convinced. I have already
quoted what Dr. Green, a staunch supporter of vaccination, ascertained from inquiries made
among a hundred prisoners in 1854