8
With respect to the year 1856, the Superintendent states:—
" On many occasions I have been obliged to have recourse to the Civil and Police Authorities
in both Collectorates (Tanna and Rutnagherry) to render me assistance in cases where diffi-
culties prevailed in advancing vaccination. In every instance where such was necessary, I have
experienced the greatest readiness on the part of these officers to afford me every assistance
in their power, and the present prosperous state of vaccination in the Concan is, I conceive,
in no small degree attributable to the ready acquiescence in furthering my wishes, which in-
variably has been exhibited by the Civil and Police officers. The Native officers too have
shown the liveliest interest in the cause of vaccination. This they have manifested both by
encouraging the people, and specially by themselves setting the example in being the first to
have their own children operated on. I may here state, that during the eight months I have
been in charge as Superintendent, I have never once had occasion to make an official complaint
against any Native Authority in either of the Collectorates.
" I think I am in a position to state, that, at present, the practice of inoculation does not
exist in either the Tanna or Rutnagherry Zillahs, and if the necessary means are but used
for its continued suppression, there is little reason to anticipate its recurrence. In the month
of August it was brought to my notice that inoculation was being practised in certain parts of
both Collectorates. A report of the same was made to the Collector and Magistrate of each
Zilla, who investigated the matter, and on its being proved that inoculation had been carried on
in the districts reported, orders were immediately issued for its strict prohibition. Since then
no cases of inoculation, as far as I am aware, have occurred, and I know, from frequent person-
al interviews with the Natives (particularly of the Rutnagherry Zillah), that they are now
altogether averse to have their children inoculated, and will most gladly accept vaccination.
At a place called ' Bay Maule,' in the Severndroog Talooka (the village where inoculation
had been carried on and reported on), the villagers themselves expressed to me their disbelief
on the advantages of inoculation. The older inhabitants confidently stated their conviction
that it was no safeguard or protection to their children from the baneful effects of Small-pox,
and experience has taught them, that vaccination, when successfully performed, is not only
a preventive to Small-pox, but that the disease, even should it appear amongst vaccinated
children, occurs in a much milder form, than in those who have been inoculated, or not
vaccinated at all. Besides, deaths after inoculation have occurred amongst their children,
and this they have never observed from vaccination. The Tikardars are certainly most
expert operators. In one village I have known a Tikardar inoculate ninety-five (95)
children in a day, and all with invariable success. Their operation is always performed on
the inner part of the forearm, near the bend of the elbow—a large unsightly scar always follows
the pock. The Small-pox matter is inserted by means of a sharp instrument (the shape of a
small razor called wastra): a few slight incisions are made in the skin, and no water is permit-
ted to touch the child for fifteen (15) days after the matter is inserted—generally in three or
four days after the matter is applied the child is seized with febrile symptoms, and soon
afterwards a crop of pustules appear over the body of different degrees of extent in different
subjects. The child remains in a weak and delicate state for a month, and often two after the
operation. The two great objects (as far as the people are concerned), namely, the accept-
ance of vaccination, and a disbelief in inoculation have been attained. It therefore only
remains to suppress the propagators of the latter, and this I conceive could in no more
effectual way be obtained than by offering them permanent Government employment.
" During the three months I have been travelling throughout the districts I have always
been treated with the greatest civility and respect by all classes of Natives. The Foujdars and
Patells of the many villages I have visited, have universally shown great willingness and
desire to assist me in collecting the children for vaccination, and this willingness was more
to be appreciated, because their troubling themselves was altogether optional and voluntary,