11
death has ensued as the result of their inoculation. Not unfrequently have the Natives in the
Tanna Collectorate expressed their surprise at not seeing the children, on whom vaccination has
been performed, covered with Small-pox pustules, and until assured that such was not necessary
to ensure the preservation of their children from the disease, they looked upon the operation as
a failure. In this matter great care has been taken to explain to the villagers, that the appear-
ance of healthy pustules on the arm is sufficient protection to their children from the disease
of Small-pox.
" From the Tables* the great difference which exists in the age of the children vaccinated
will be observed of children above one year the total number vaccinated was twenty-eight
thousand and sixty-seven (28,067), whilst of those below one year the number amounted to
five thousand six hundred and eighty-nine (5,689), showing a difference in favour of the former
of twenty-two thousand three hundred and seventy-eight (22,378). The only reason which
can be assigned for this marked difference is, that Natives generally object to have their chil-
dren vaccinated until they are passed twelve months old. Gradually I believe this feeling will
give way, for I have frequently shown them children of a few months old who have been vacci-
nated without any harm or bad result following.
" The result of the past year's work, and success of the operations are, I consider, very satis-
factory. A more satisfactory result than 95 per cent. of success could hardly be looked for, and
judging from the last three months' inspection of the work of the Assistant Vaccinators, I am
satisfied that the reports forwarded by them are, on the whole, correct.
" The disease of Small-pox has not prevailed as an epidemic in this Division throughout the
past year. From time to time reports have been forwarded of the disease having appeared in
different villages in the districts ; measures were always at once taken to prevent its increase as
far as possible, and the children of the surrounding villages, where the disease prevailed, were
speedily vaccinated. The total number of deaths from Small-pox reported to me to have
occurred throughout the Division was one hundred and nineteen (119), but I am inclined to
believe that this number is much underrated, and that many more deaths not reported to me
must have occurred. The greatest number of deaths from this disease occurred in the month
of May—forty-seven (47) deaths were reported in that month alone; during the month of
March only one death was recorded. These reports of deaths from Small-pox have been
forwarded to me by the Assistant Vaccinators who have comparatively little means of ascer-
taining the exact number of deaths which may have happened in each district. The reports
therefore furnished by the Assistant Vaccinators cannot be relied on as a correct statement of
the number of deaths from Small-pox.
" Inoculation as a practice does not exist generally in the Concan Division. The custom
prevails to a greater extent in the Tanna than in the Rutnagherry Collectorate. In the
Tulojah Talooka, Tanna Collectorate, the practice for years past universally prevailed, and till
lately the villagers resisted with violence any Assistant Vaccinator attempting to enter their
villages. Owing to the valuable assistance afforded to me by the present Acting Collector of
Tanna, inoculation has been done away with, and vaccination has been very successfully estab-
lished in that Talooka. The Koommars or Petter tribes are the people who generally carry
on inoculation throughout the country. The operation is performed on the inner side at the
bend of the elbow : incisions are made in the skin by a succession of taps by means of a short
razor-like instrument ; a small ball of cotton is then dipped into the matter of Small-pox, and
this is rubbed into the incisions, a very large and unsightly sore follows this operation. No
greater obstacle to vaccination exists than the practice of inoculation. The parties practising
obtain a good livelihood by this means, and consequently do not fail to condemn the use of
vaccination. These Koommars get from 6 pice to 4 annas, according to the wealth of the
parents, for each child inoculated.
* Appendix No. 1, 1857.