58
ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF CIVIL SURGEONS.
Remarks by the
Deputy Inspec-
tor-General of
Hospitals
Dr. Buckle in forwarding this report writes as follows :—
" Dr. Wise's report is a carefully written summary, giving the history of the introduction
and qualified amount of success of vaccination at Dacca. Pains have been taken that vaccine
operations at that city should be watched,; that the vaccinator should be under constant
supervision ; a regular systematic inspection of the individuals vaccinated has been steadily
carried out; the attempt being to secure perfect vaccination, not numerous cases to swell a
return into a deceptive appearance of success. The chief opposition is met with amongst the
higher and well educated classes. There is a pride of birth, caste prejudices, a tenacious
clinging to old customs ; a disposition to look with suspicion on all innovations, and to meet
them with a passive resistance. In the case of vaccination, the numerous failures in its protec-
tive influence can always be urged against its adoption.
Necessity of strict
supervision.
" The inference to be deduced from Dr. Wise's report, and generally from those of the
other medical officers, is the necessity of a strict supervision over the agency employed in
diffusing vaccination; that as far as possible every vaccine vesicle should be seen by a
trustworthy person; that it would be better to confine dispensary vaccine operations to small
circles; that the attempt should be at perfect vaccination within a defined circle, not at
general vaccination throughout a district, though this might be attained gradually. To effect
this even imperfectly would make larger demands on the time of civil medical officers, and
more frequent and prolonged absence from the sudder station than is compatible with their
employment as superintendents of jails."
Furreedpore.
Attempts to in-
struct inocula-
tors failed
Furreedpore.—Dr. Bose reports that only one vaccinator is employed, on
a salary of Rs. 10. He works mainly within municipal limits, but occasionally
visits adjoining villages. The vaccinations were fewer in number than in
1870-71, but the success was better. The plan of operation was as follows. A
village or mohulla was selected, vaccination was set up in its centre, and
gradually spread through its area. The Civil Surgeon inspected the majority of
the cases. Vaccination is not popular in the town, and still less so in the district.
Inoculation is universal in the latter. Deaths are heard of occasionally, but
epidemic small-pox seldom prevails.
None occurred during the year.
An
attempt was made, but without avail, to instruct inoculators in vaccination.
The following table shows the percentage of different forms of protection
enjoyed by the people:—
Vaccine census.
Jail
...
School ...
Number
examined.
925
362
Inocu-
lated.
678
249
Per cent. of
total
examined.
73.29
68.78
Vaccin-
ated.
93
77
Per cent. of
total
examined.
10.05
21.27
Had
small-pox.
30
...
Per cent of
total
examined.
3.24
...
Unpro-
tected
99
46
Per cent. of
total
examined.
10.37
12.70
No vaccine operations were performed at the Pudumdee branch dispensary.
Backergunge.
Backergunge.—Surgeon
Bensley, M.D., reports that operations are perfomed
in the station and suburbs by one Government vaccinator receiving Rs. 10 per
mensem: this man also visits the dispensary and jail daily. The system of
work is not described, but it seems to be desultory. The native residents of
the station readily accept the prophylactic. The Civil Surgeon inspected cases
operated on. No inoculation is carried on in the town, but the district is
visited by the several inoculators coming from other districts. No small-pox
appeared in the town during the year, and very few cases were reported from
the district. The operations of 1871-72 exceeded those of the previous year
in number, and a larger percentage of success was obtained. Dr. Bensley
thinks that Act IV of 1865 should be introduced into the town, and a vaccinator
entertained by the municipality, leaving the Government free to push operations
into the surrounding country. No vaccination was performed at Perozepore