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that the present Establishment can do, and is doing, a great deal to extend protection to the
population of the province.
On reviewing the work of the year, it gives me the utmost gratification to be able to say
that the successful working of the Establishment is, in a great measure, due to the assistance
and countenance of the Collectors and Deputy Collectors of the province. No complaint has
ever been made to me as to the intemperate conduct of Vaccinators, and my belief is, that
they are carrying on the work in a way which, far from rousing the prejudices of the people,
is likely eventually to disarm them.
REPORT FOR 1859.
THE total number vaccinated during the year 1859 was 49,525. In the year 1858, there
were 47,130 operations. This number shows an increase in the work of 1859 as compared
with that of 1858 of 2,395. During the year under report, there were vaccinated 28,891 males,
and 20,634 females. Of these, under one year of age, 12,022 were operated upon; 37,503
above this age. Owing to the prevalence of Small-pox during the early part of the year in the
Sakra Talooka of the Jerruck districts, and to the fear the prevalence of the disease and the
numerous deaths from it occasioned, a considerable number of adults—men and women—
were vaccinated at their own request. With this exception, adult vaccination has been rarely
practised, and in no instance but at the special and earnest request of the individual. The
result of the operations of the year gives 48,843 successful, 309 unsuccessful, and 373
doubtful cases. The number of successful cases (48,843) compared with the total number
vaccinated during the year (49,525), gives a percentage of success equal to 98.6. This percent-
age of success does not represent the result of the primary operations. During regular work
—the Vaccinator settled in his district with a good supply of lymph,—it is a very rare event to
see an operation fail completely. The number of vesicles differ. In a fair proportion, there
are six vesicles corresponding to the number of punctures made with the lancet; some may
have four, others two or three, or, as occasionally happens, only one good vesicle, the others, in
the great majority of instances, becoming a sacrifice to itching fingers, or to carelessly-applied
clothing. When it happens on an emergency that Vaccinators are taken away from their
regular work—and a visitation of Small-pox this year constituted such an emergency,—there is
always some difficulty, on their return to their districts, to secure the same successful result
from lymph on glasses, or from crusts, which they are sometimes obliged to use. A consi-
derable number of such cases have to be operated upon twice, occasionally even thrice, before
success is apparent. In ordinary work, failure is very unfrequent; but failure on re-vaccination
is even less rare in proportion.
The vaccine lymph has not, in any way, deteriorated during the year, and continues very
good. Epidemic Small-pox prevailed for three or four months in the early part of the year
in the Sakra Talooka of the Jerruck districts. In two villages—Ghoolam Lahi and Otar—
the disease had been very fatal, several adults having fallen victims to it. In the former
village, as far as could be gathered from inquiries on the spot, there had been sixty-five cases,
and twelve deaths. In several other villages also, the disease made its appearance, but in
fewer cases, and with less fatal results. The people were alarmed, and several were reported
to me as having left their homes to escape the danger. Several Zemindars came to me to
request very earnestly that their villages might be protected by vaccination. To take
advantage of this unusual and very favourable state of things, several Vaccinators were collected
to extend protection as rapidly as possible. Whole villages—men, women, and children—
eagerly sought and received the protection of vaccination. It was a favourable circumstance,
in the interests of vaccination, that, in both the villages where Small-pox was exceptionally