(
2
)
cannot be expected to advance. The Lieutenant-Governor is aware that the
funds of Amritsar are not in a position to enable them to meet any large outlay
in extending the operations; but, considering the importance of the subject and
the great virulence with which small-pox has raged in the city of Amritsar, it
would appear no more than a wise precaution for the Municipality to devote some
portion of their funds to supplement the efforts of the vaccinating staff.
10. The Lieutenant-Governor observes that, though the mortality from
small-pox is little more than half of what it was during the preceding year, yet
that it is still exceedingly high,—higher indeed than in the year 1867-68.
11. A proposition has lately been made by the Sanitary Commissioner
with the Government of India to amalgamate the Vaccine and Sanitary Estab-
lishments; but this has not been approved by the Government of the Punjao,
who consider that vaccination is too important to be made, as it would undoubtedly
be, subordinate to general sanitary work. The great number of deaths which
have taken place from small-pox in the Province during the last six years
seem to shew the necessity of rather extending than contracting the operations
of the Vaccine Establishment.
12. The Lieutenant-Governor notes that in para 40 of the Report the
necessity is strongly urged of some special measures to check the spread of
small-pox. The first of these is to place each house in which a case of small-pox
occurs in quarantine, and to vaccinate all the unprotected in the affected house or
village, and thus to stop the spread of the disease. The opinion of the Commis-
sioners will be requested as to the practibility of this measure. The Lieutenant-
Governor fully admits that it is desirable. But quarantine, unless rigidly
enforced, is useless, and orders will be passed upon this subject on the receipt of
the opinion of Commissioners of Divisions.
13. The second proposal is to insist upon compulsory vaccination in the
large towns of Lahore, Amritsar and Dehli, the rules being framed and carried
out by Municipalities. This proposal the Lieutenant-Governor is altogether
unable to sanction. The importance of vaccination and the protection it affords
against small-pox should be most strongly urged upon the people by the officers
of Government and intelligent native gentlemen, but the Lieutenant-Governor
is altogether opposed to make vaccination compulsory. Its benefits are so clear
that in time they must be recognized by the people of the whole Punjab as the
present report shows them to have been recognized by the inhabitants of some
of the hill states. The Lieutenant-Governor is content to await the time when
vaccination shall be generally accepted by the people, and considers that to make
it compulsory would do more harm than good to the movement.
14. The Lieutenant-Governor expresses to the Officiating Superintendent
General of Vaccination, Dr. Isaac Newton, his sense of the services be has
rendered during the years. The work of Dr. J. Bennett, the Officiating Super-
intendent of Vaccination is also deserving of commendation, and the operations
of the year are, in the opinion of the Lieutenant-Governor, entirely satisfactory.
ORDERED, that the report be printed, with the remarks of the Hon'ble
the Lieutenant-Governor, and circulated for general information.
By order of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor, Punjab,
L. H. GRIFFIN,
Offg. Secretary to Government, Punjab.