30
In February the vaccine matter obtained from Bombay appears not to have been very reliable,
as it produced, according to a note appended to the Report for that month, the typical
vesicles in Europeans, but was too highly successful with Natives, showing a tendency to
degenerate. Late in March the virus forwarded by the Royal Jennerian Institution in London
proved efficient, producing vesicles with the true characteristics, and this continued to act
satisfactorily until July, when it is remarked that the lymph again began to deteriorate.
In August a fresh supply arriving from London, typical vesicles were the result of all the
operations, and this favourable report continue to the closing of the year.
The total number of operations performed during the year has been 1,150, giving a large
increase above those of the year 1859. I attribute this favorable result in a great measure
to the countenance given to Vaccination by the Civil Authorities. Natives are naturally
quick in divining the wishes of those placed in authority over them; but the association of
a Police peon with the Native Vaccinator is, though perfectly ligitimate, a broad and sig-
nificant hint not easily to be misunderstood. The proportion of male children who have
undergone the operation compared with females is very remarkable, the former being
more than double the number of the latter. The number of children vaccinated under
one year of age, as compared with those above one year of age (respectively 85 and 1,065),
is yet more striking. It is difficult to arrive at any satisfactory explanation of this fact,
unless it be in some degree accounted for by the statement, that by far the chief number
of operations have taken place among Arabs and Somalis, the latter (in this Report classed
with Mussulmans) a fluctuating population; both readily subject their grown up children
to the experiment, but are more solicitous about their infants, dreading the febrile excite-
ment with which the operation is attended. The large proportion of unsuccessful and
doubtful to the successful cases which stands recorded as far below one-half of the total
number vaccinated, evinces a nervous caution in entering successful cases amounting almost
to timidity. To expect to see patients after the fourteenth day is to expect what will rarely take
place. They are willing enough to show the progress of the pustule up to the tenth day, but
when a scale commences to form, they consider themselves well, and are not to be per-
suaded to appear before the Vaccinator. The legislature in England sanctions the granting
of a certificate of protection by a legalized Vaccinator on the tenth day, provided the pustule
shows the proper characteristic of incipient desication. The Vaccine Institutions uphold
that protection can only be warranted on an inspection of the scabs on the fourteenth day. Not
to enter into this controversy, although I incline to the latter opinion, yet it appears to me
that a Superintendent of Vaccination is perfectly justified in returning a case as successful
if he has satisfied himself that the pustule has gone through its normal course up to the
tenth day (when the lymph is known to be producing characteristic pustules), although he
may not have the opportunity of examining the scabs. It becomes the duty of the
Vaccinator, with a mixed and fluctuating population like that of Aden, to make the opera-
tions, and after attendance on himself for observations, as easy as possible to the people, or
Vaccination would soon become unpopular. It is gratifying to find the Jews (classed under
"all other castes") again having recourse to the operations ; although the number is but small,
yet it is a beginning, which may bear a good result in convincing this perverse, and by no
means inconsiderable, proportion of the population of the efficacy of this prophylactic remedy
against Small-pox. The Christians being but few in number, excepting in the Camp where
the European troops are stationed, show necessarily but a very limited number of cases.
The Hindoos, considering their prejudices, have afforded a fair proportion of cases. Fewer
Small-pox patients have been under treatment during the year 1860 than in previous years,
but the station can never be free from the disease as fresh importations from Africa and
Arabia may always with certainty be expected.