14
REPORT FOR 1859.
IN the Northern Deccan Division, during the year 1859,20,013 persons of both sexes
have been vaccinated—a number which falls short of the operations effected in 1858 by 770.
There is nothing in the history of the year to account for this deficiency; the obstacles which
usually attend vaccination have not prevailed to a greater extent than in former years; and
the perfectly tranquil state of the whole Division should have promoted rather than retarded
vaccination. We are compelled therefore to look for the cause of failure in the working of
the Department. There are five Vaccinators whose Returns for the year show a falling off to
the extent of 2,099 cases in comparing their work for 1859 with that of 1858, and I am not
aware of any peculiarities connected with their charges during the year to account for this
deficiency, whilst their standing in the Department precludes all excuse of inexperience. The
shortcomings of several members of my Establishment have been notified to them very
frequently during the year, and do not now come under my consideration, for the first time.
I find that recoveries on account of fines amount to Rs. 89 for the year, whilst for 1858, the
amount was only Rs. 8. The deficiency may therefore be fairly attributed to general
inattention on the part of some members of the Establishment, and to exceptional, but more
glaring, instances of misconduct on the part of others; these last have been noticed from time
to time, and disposed of as they seemed to deserve. There are, however, many members who
worked well and zealously. Of the total vaccinated, 10,509 have been males, and 9,504
females. With respect to caste, we find that 96.55 per cent. are Hindoos, inclusive of low-
caste, whilst the Mussulman population can scarcely be said to be represented, inasmuch
as they form less than three-and-a-half per cent. of the vaccinated. At first sight, this
certainly appears surprising; for we undoubtedy find that Mussulmans who come in contact
with Europeans exhibit a readiness to avail themselves of European medical science;
but apart from this influence, they would appear to be just as bigoted fatalists as the
more ignorant classes, and still less inclined to recognise the indirect Government agency
of the Vaccinator. It may be said of a Department which works with Brahmin agency on
voluntary principles, that its sphere of influence and usefulness would be chiefly confined to its
own caste; but there has been an occasional Mussulman Vaccinator, and there is now one
in the Department, who, however, returns fewer vaccinations amongst Mahomedans than do
several of the Hindoo Vaccinators. No Parsee ever appears to come under the Divisional
Superintendent's Establishment; the same may be said with regard to Europeans, who, although
vaccinated with lymph supplied by the Department, rarely come under its direct agency.
The few cases returned are obtained from civilians, or others on duty in the districts. In
respect of " age," it is to be remarked that nearly the whole operations are effected on persons
above one year old, the percentage of which is 90.82, whilst under one year, only a trifle over
9 per cent, has been obtained. The results of operations have been highly favourable, being
for successful cases a fraction over 95 per cent., the unsuccessful and doubtful together being
under 5 per cent. The vaccine disease exists satisfactorily throughout the Division, from the
practice of immediate vaccination, which is insisted on as far as practicable. The lymph does
not appear to have deteriorated in any way. Small-pox was epidemic in the Division during
the first six months of the year; but the Reports sent in merely mention its existence in certain
villages which came under the cognisance of the Vaccinators, without entering into details.
I have therefore no means of ascertaining the extent of the disease or its fatality ; but I believe
its ravages are not now so severe as formerly. No instances of inoculation with Small-pox
have come under my notice during the year, and I am not aware that the practice now exists.
Suggestions regarding the means to secure the more effectual spread of vaccination have
before been offered, and I cannot do better than call attention to Dr. Morehead's opinion on this
point, as expressed in the last paragraph of the printed Reports on Vaccination for 1856-57,