REPORT ON VACCINATION.
21
CHITTUR CIRCLE.
In this circle 27,790 operations are reported by the Deputy Inspector with a
success of 94. per cent., and the results in 1,274 cases were unknown. On compari-
son with the work of the preceding year a marked increase of 17,128 cases is
shown this year, which the Deputy Inspector attributes partly to the greater
exertions of the staff and partly to the large number of coolies having been
operated on in the famine relief-camps and works. Of the total vaccinated 30
were re-vaccinations, of which 27 were successful. 1,656 infants under one year of
age have been vaccinated during the year, consisting of 829 males and 827 females.
No obstructions to the spread of vaccination were met with, and the prejudices of
the people against vaccination are gradually wearing out and the beneficial results
from vaccination are fully appreciated except when small-pox breaks out. The
Deputy Inspector complains that Vaccinators are being taken away from their
legitimate work to treat cholera patients. Small-pox prevailed in this circle to
some extent, especially in the taluks of Punganur and Tirutani and among the
famine relief coolies, but the disease was soon arrested and great help was given
by the Revenue officials. The mortality from small-pox was 1,942 during the
year. The cost of each successful case was Annas 2 and Pies 5. On the 4th July
1877 Dr. Shortt left Madras for Arcot, where he met the Deputy Inspector of
Vaccination of this circle on the next day. In the evening visited the relief-camp
and inspected many old and new cases which were good, but did not see any working
lymph. The next day he started for Wallajapet and inspected the Municipal
vaccination, and reprimanded the Vaccinatrix for having had no working lymph,
and returned to Madras on the 7th. Left again on the 9th to Gudiyatam and
entered into the town with the Deputy Inspector, and inspected one sixth-day and
four fifth-day cases vaccinated with stored lymph, and found the vesicles of all of
them in a state of maturation, except one vesicle in one of the subjects and a large
number of old cases irregularly inserted. Arrived at Palmanair on the 10th and
inspected several old cases which where not satisfactory. The Vaccinator had no
working lymph to show, and worked only one day in the week instead of six.
Visited the relief-camp on the 11th morning and vaccinated 11 subjects with
tube lymph and returned to Palmanair, and proceeded to Punganur the same
evening, where the Vaccinator produced 3 subjects with scarcely any vesicles in
them. Visited the relief-camp there on the 13th and inspected some seventh-day
and some old cases which were good. Visited again the relief-camp on the 14th
and vaccinated 30 subjects, with the assistance of the superintendent, with arm
lymph from a subject selected in the camp. Found the Zemindari Vaccinator
sick, suffering from fever and an abscess on one of his legs. Left for Madhanapalle
with instructions to the Deputy Inspector to vaccinate as many as he could in
the adjoining villages where small-pox was prevailing. On the night of the 16th
returned to Punganur, where the Deputy Inspector again met Dr. Shortt and
reported that 12 cases were operated on at Chowdapully. On the 17th visited
again the famine relief-camp and inspected some good eighth-day cases and
vaccinated 9 cases before he returned to the palace. Left for Palmanair where,
on the 18th, he saw a few old cases of the Taluk Vaccinator. On the 19th visited
the relief-camp and reprimanded the Vaccinator for not producing a single case
he operated on the 11th, and left for Chittur the same night, where one Vaccinator
with two probationers presented themselves, and the Deputy Inspector showed a
good seventh-day case in the town. Dr. Shortt inspected the equipments of the
Vaccinators, and left the same evening for Vellore and returned to Madras. Left
again for Arcot on the 22nd, and visited the famine relief-camp with the Deputy
Inspector, and saw a number of excellent cases with good working lymph. Saw a
woman here, who had just been admitted into the relief-camp with an infant
attacked with small-pox, whilst the mother herself having good marks of vaccina-
tion on her arms was free from the disease ; this he pointed out to Major Liardett,
the officer in charge of the camp, and left for Arni with instructions to the
Deputy Inspector to meet him again on his return from Vellore Circle. Arrived
at Arcot on the 1st August 1877, but did not find the Deputy Inspector as directed.
Sent for the Vaccinators and visited the famine relief-camp, and inspected a large
number of good cases, and saw also the Hospital Assistant. Inspected the equip-
ments of two Vaccinators and a good eighth-day subject brought by one of the
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