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copy of the correspondence having been forwarded through the Superintending Surgeon, I
need not further advert to the subject here, than to say, I moved myself, as soon as other
engagements would permit, with an Assistant Vaccinator towards the Meywar boundary, but
the Small-pox had ceased, and I regret to say that among the Bheels we failed in obtaining
any subjects for vaccination. While noticing this, I may add that a later attempt made by
the Political Agent in the Mahee Kanta with the assistance of the Rao of Paul, who exerted
himself much in the matter, has also been unsuccessful. The Bheels, as with me at Poleena,
threatening to desert their villages and fly to the hills sooner than bring their children for
vaccination. They are, however, a very simple-minded people, and could once their prejudice
be got over, I have no doubt they would freely accept vaccination.
"In February, as the delay in the former month in collecting the Returns &c. required for
completing the Annual Reports brought the matter strongly to my notice, I made an attempt,
with the consent of the Superintending Surgeon, to introduce a few simple rules as to the
framing and forwarding Monthly Returns &c, which I hoped would accelerate their reaching
me; but owing, as it appeared to me, to my object not having been explained to the Political
Agent, when forwarding from the Superintending Surgeon's office my request for the acknow-
ledgment on the outside of documents of the date on which received for transmission by the
Village Authorities, I have never been able to get this done, and the consequence often is
vexatious delay and inability on my part to decide how caused.
"In March, having finished my tour through the Palhunpoor Districts, I submitted, through
the Superintending Surgeon, a little sketch of the origin and progress of vaccination in that
part of the Division, for which I was honored with the thanks of the Medical Board.*
"In April I received, through the Superintending Surgeon, copy of a letter from the Resident
at Baroda, saying that the superintendence of vaccination in H. H. the Guicowar's districts
was no portion of my duty, on which point I applied for instructions from the Medical Board.
"In May, and with reference to former correspondence, commenced a correspondence with
the Political Agent in Kattywar, on the subject of the pay and control of Vaccinators in the
employ of Native Chiefs in that Province, which led to a reference of the question to Govern-
ment, whose decision has not yet been received.†
"In June I was favored with the Medical Board's instructions to withdraw all Government
Vaccinators from His Highness the Guicowar's districts, which has accordingly been done.
"In July, as a consequence of the above, I proposed a small reduction of the Government
Establishment of Vaccinators, which however the Medical Board decided against.
" In August I proposed that the surplus of those Vaccinators, above what I considered
sufficient to meet the wants of the Government districts, might, in communication with the
Political Agent, be employed in Native territory; but this proposition was also negatived by
the Medical Board, who deemed it advisable that their operations should be confined to our
own districts.
" In September, as from this increased number of men thus employed in the Ahmedabad
Collectorate some complaints were made of Vaccinators encroaching on one another's work,
I applied for the Collector's aid to divide the Collectorate into fifteen charges, one to be
allotted to each Vaccinator. This task the Collector very kindly undertook, and has since
accomplished, referring the lists to me, which I have in some instances slightly altered where
local circumstances or natural boundaries, such as rivers, which might be obstacles in the
rains, made it appear desirable. Lists have been filed in this office of the villages in each
charge, and number of houses in each village. These lists are translated into Guzerathee,
and a copy given to each Vaccinator of his particular charge. I may add that it was my
intention to have required from each of these Vaccinators on the 1st April and 1st October
a list of the villages he had visited in six months preceding, with their number of houses,
* Acknowledged also by the Director General and published at p. 18 ante.
† Since decided. See Kattywar Division, p. 32.
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