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It is said—let us hope on good grounds—that, by having pursued the course above indicated
—both as regards employers and the people who receive vaccination,—we have, in a great
degree, succeeded in removing the positive aversion with which people looked on it. The
absence of compulsion, which it is stated Peons used in some degree to practice, the countenance
given to the movement by their own Chiefs, and the employment of men from among them-
selves with whom the people are acquainted, as Vaccinators are stated, is what tends so much
to secure confidence in the practice. All this I give as stated, and hope the expectations of ulti-
mate success, which it would encourage, may be hereafter realized. It will, at the same time,
illustrate the principles on which it is endeavoured to found our practice, the object being,
instead of exacting the largest attainable returns of numbers vaccinated, and pointing to these
as indicating complete success, to try first and secure the good-will of the people and
their rulers for the practice, and then let it work out its own increase amongst them.
In comparing the number of vaccinations with those performed in the preceding twelve
months, a moderate increase is observable,which, considering the great disadvantages vaccina-
tion in Kattywar has had to contend against in the past year, is very satisfactory, especially as, in
consequence of the exigency of the public service, I was recalled to do Regimental and Station
duty at the end of May, and not relieved, even for a day, of the charge until the following
January. I then moved out at once into the districts; but before the end of February was
recalled again to do Station duty, from which I was not freed till towards the close of April, when
I again went out, but was unfortunately prevented, by a severe attack of illness, from visiting
the Vaccinators in the south-eastern districts, and those employed between them and Rajcote,
and was obliged, as soon as sufficiently recovered, to return to that station in the early part of
June.
The above circumstances will, I trust, be considered as fully and satisfactorily accounting
for the moderate increase, and also, I think, enable us to judge of its probable permanency ;
for, as the causes arose out of purely temporary exigencies—such as are not again, I trust,
likely to occur,—it cannot be reasonably supposed that their effect will be lasting; and from
vaccination having held its ground, even to the extent that it has done, there is, it appears to
me, much encouragement and hope for its future extension and success. Two of the principal
Chiefs in the province—HisHighness the Jam of Nowanuggur and theThakoor of Bhownuggur—
have, in their own families, lately received it, as also have many others of influence and respect-
ability. It is much hoped that such a feeling will spread, as on it, more than on over-anxiety
evidenced on our part, most probably depends the ultimate and real success of the undertaking.
" It is a great secret," to use the words of Sir John Malcolm, " to allow men to be happy in their
own way; and what we term blessings become punishments when they are inflicted." There is
doubtless a point beyond which over-eagerness in urging the reception of new and imperfectly
understood practices or systems tends to retard their acceptance, suspicion and often
opposition are excited, and the very contrary result to that intended and desired may be
produced. It is often very difficult among petty, but quite independent Chiefs, as in this
province, to judge exactly how far interference is wise. Colonel Lang seemed to deprecate it to
any extent beyond merely giving them advice, and the fullest insight possible into our
motives and objects, and then, as soon as they consented to try vaccination, we placed the
means in their hands by instructing a man of their own choice as a Vaccinator for them, and
encouraged his free employment among their subjects. Such a cause may not have been,
perhaps, that most calculated to obtain in the shortest time the largest returns of numbers
vaccinated; but it was adopted by advice of the late Political Agent, as that which his
experience suggested as most likely to meet with permanent support, and secure the good-will
of all classes of people in Kattywar.