6
on the subject when visiting the districts; but more than this is required, and until the active
co-operation of the Native officials is secured, no great result can be expected; as far as my ob-
servation goes, the Mamlutdars generally take no interest in the progress of Vaccination, and
give really very little aid to the Vaccinators. Neither do they trouble themselves to combat
the prejudices of the lower classes, or to enlighten their ignorance as to the benefits afforded
by successful Vaccination; apparently they look upon every thing connected with the subject
as foreign to their own proper duties, and it is only in exceptional instances that active assis-
tance is afforded by them. I have found, during my tour of inspection, that my presence in
a talooka was evidently considered tiresome ; and instead of the Mamlutdar or his deputy
coming forward with alacrity to consult as to the best means to be adopted for the extension
of Vaccination, they, as a general rule, hang back, and on more than one occasion I have been
compelled to call the attention of their superiors to the slight and incivility I have experienced
from the chief native officials during my stay at the station. The Mamlutdar's example is
naturally and generally followed by those beneath him, down to the village Patels, who,
had they the will, have the power of rendering immense assistance, but not unfrequently
exercise it in the wrong direction. To give one or two examples which have lately come to.
my knowledge :—
A Vaccinator attended at a village for the purpose of operating, taking with him lymph. He stated
his errand to the Patel, and requested his assitsance in collecting subjects for vaccination. The Pateh
went round and informed the villagers that a Government " Doctor" had come to the village for the
purpose of making wounds (to "dig holes" was the phrase employed) in their children's arms, but
that the operation would not be performed, if each gave him (the Patel) four annas. Of course the
Vaccinator did little work in that village.
This is not a Vaccinator's story. I give it as related to me by the Assistant Collector in
charge of the district in which the occurrence took place, who very properly suspended the
Patel. Again—
A Vaccinator reports that he went to a certain village, and, in like manner, requested the Patel for
assistance in collecting subjects. This official informed him that the god must first be consulted as
to whether Vaccination was proper or not, and that he would have to wait until evening for a reply.
The Vaccinator did wait, and, when evening came, was told by the Patel that the god considered
Vaccination was not proper. The consequence being that the Vaccinator's day's work and lymph
were lost.
I have heard of natives consulting their gods on important occasions, but I never before-
heard of a Patel answering for a whole village. I merely mention these facts as instances of ob-
struction which Vaccinators have to meet with whilst performing their duties; obstructions which
would not exist could the native officials be brought to a right feeling on the subject. Besides
the prejudices of the people, the Vaccinators, in this Division especially, have other difficulties
to contend with, and which militate considerably against the extension of their work. The
large towns are few in number, the villages generally widely scattered, with a scanty population,
and the districts allotted to each Vaccinator of very large extent. A day is often spent entire-
ly in passing from one village to another, and on the Vaccinator's arrival, he may probably not
find more than two or three children whose parents are favorable to the operation. There is
also much difficulty experienced in conveying the lymph from village to village, parents hav-
ing an almost insuperable objection to their children being removed for this purpose. Glass
plates, therefore, are frequently made use of, by which the activity of the lymph is endan-
gered. I am averse to the granting of travelling batta, as liable to abuse, unless the whole
establishment could be under the immediate eye of the Superintendent, but I really think that
if something could be given monthly to the Vaccinators in the way of " Pony allowance,"
obliging them to keep an animal, it would remove some of the difficulties now existing, and would
enable them to visit three, four, or more villages in the course of a day, instead of one, as is
often the case under present circumstances. I decidedly think that if a grant of the kind, as
above recommended, is required any where, it is in this Division, and for the reasons I have