16
missed at the end of 1856, and of course men unused to the work had to be entertained to
fill these vacancies. Throughout the year the average strength has been only sixteen and
three-quarters (16¾) instead of eighteen (18).
"The Returns show that of the total number vaccinated 52.1 per cent. were males, and
47.9 per cent. were females, giving a small increase in the proportion of females, as compared
with 1856, when it was as 46.7 to 53.2. The numbers under one year of age are in the pro-
portion of 26.4 per cent., while those in 1856 were 25.9 per cent., showing an increase in 1857
of 0.47 per cent. I have made a point of trying to persuade both village authorities, Vacci-
nators, and the people themselves, of the advantage of submitting children to vaccination at
an early age, and I hope that every year will see their fears on this subject diminished. In
the result of operations the year 1857 shows, as far as Returns and confirmation reports can
be trusted, a decided improvement over 1856, the successful cases being 95.3 per cent. against
92.2 per cent. I have not attempted to show the proportion of vaccinations to population, as
the data afforded by the census of 1851 would not at this time give any reliable result.
"The condition of the lymph and vesicles appears to be good throughout the Division.
In only one case have I had any occasion to doubt its efficacy, and that was in the hands of a
very inattentive operator. It was immediately replaced from a neighbouring Vaccinator.
Small-pox has prevailed more or less at different times in all the Collectorates, and in the
Talookas. It was epidemic in Hindee (Sholapoor) in January and February, but not very
severe in character. In Bedee and Pursgurh (Belgaum) in February and March. The deaths
amounted to 20 per cent. In Modebhal (Sholapoor), in April, twenty-seven (27) cases and
seven (7) deaths were reported ; in Hooblee (Dharwar), in September, there were two
hundred and nine (209) cases, and fourteen (14) deaths ; in Padshahpoor (Belgaum), in Septem-
ber, forty-two (42) cases and thirteen (13) deaths; and in Punderpoor (Sattara), in the same
month, sixteen (16) cases and five (5) deaths. In several cases Small-pox has been reported
by the local authorities in places where no Vaccinator was stationed, and immediate steps
have been taken to vaccinate all the children requiring it, by sending the nearest operator to
the locality as a temporary measure. In some cases the presence of Small-pox caused an
immediate increase in the number of vaccinations; and I have no doubt, that were the
Vaccinators and village authorities to use such occasions zealously, a considerable increase
would, in every case, be the result. I have no reason to suppose that inoculation has at all
obstructed the progress of vaccination. In one or two cases the prevalence of cholera has
interfered.
"In consequence of the unsettled state of the country, the tour of inspection did not com-
mence until the middle of November. It was my object to see those Vaccinators whose work
had been longest unvisited, or had not been seen at all by my predecessors. Leaving Sattara,
I proceeded to Koregaum, and thence to Khoondul, a town belonging to the Oundh Jagheer,
thence to Tasgaum (Belgaum Collectorate), a very large and important town. In the surround-
ing villages I found vaccination very well received; but among the numerous Brahmin popu-
lation of the town itself, there was much opposition; and where they had allowed their
children to be vaccinated, they frequently refused to allow lymph to be taken from them, or to
bring them for inspection. From Tasgaum I proceeded to Sanglee, Meeraj, Mharsal and
Kagwar. None of these Jagheers had ever before been visited; and the Chiefs having
objected to the Superintendent having any direct authority over the Vaccinators entertained
by them, it seemed not unlikely that some jealousy of my presence might be shown. This,
however, was by no means the case. I was every where received with marked attention,—with
the chief of Meeraj I had more than one interview, and tried to interest both himself and those
in authority under him in the success of vaccination: of promises on the subject all were
most liberal, but I fear that its bearing on the happiness of their people is but little, if at all,
appreciated by them. On my way from Kagwar into the Kolapoor state, I had an opportunity
of conversing with two of the Koorundwar Chiefs. They were the first of the Belgaum