( 14 )
effective ; and to do this, it must be properly paid. These and other matters affecting
the welfare of the department, and consequently the welfare of the community, will be
explained and discussed in person.
16.—DUTIES OF CIVIL AUTHORITIES.
Without the active co-operation of the civil authorities, vaccination can make
but slow progress, as all the underlings take their cue from their superiors ; and thus,
when indifference is shown on the part of the Collector, the vaccinators are discredited
throughout the district, and they wander about dispirited, with their time but half
employed. To my mind it is the most astounding anomaly that thousands of children
are serenely permitted to perish annually from small-pox for want of a little interest
on the part of the authorities to induce the parents to accept the services of the vac-
cinator; whilst a few deaths from starvation in a famine district excite to frantic
howls the entire press of the civilized world. I trust that His Honor the
Lieutenant-G
subject of vaccination, in place of the apathy that now pervades the minds of so many,
both European and native. How nobly Kumaon stands out as an instance of what
can be done by the civil authorities with a determination to benefit the people;—no
spurious sentimentality as to the liberty of the subject (a liberty which confers the
right to endanger the life of your own offspring and that of your neighbour's) has
here been allowed to stand in the way of the subject's good.
17.—CANTONMENT VACCINATION.
The North-Western Provinces Government last year pronounced an opinion that
the providing the means of vaccination for all those residing within cantonments was a
duty incumbent on the cantonment committee. I heartily concur in this view. The
present system of trusting to the services of municipal and tuhseel vaccinators, who
have no authorized position within cantonment bounds, is so loose in its working that
it ought no longer to be tolerated. Taking for granted that the Military Department
agrees in the condemnation of matters as at present existing, and assuming that it
is equally prepared to pay for its own protection, it remains only to be seen which is
the best mode of carrying it out. I am of opinion that trained vaccinators only should
be entertained. If these duties are assigned to compounders "et hoc genus omne,"
the thing will become a farce. Good trained men can be supplied by the Vaccine
Department for Rs. 92 per annum ; but they must have no other duties assigned to
them: they will receive Rs. 10 per mensem for the five working months, and Rs. 6
per mensem for the seven recess months whilst at their homes.
It was ruled in the case of municipal vaccinators that it was " preposterous "
that a man should receive pay when sitting in idleness ; but I maintain that there
is nothing preposterous about the matter. In fact, it is the most marvellous good
sense, when looked at in a practical light. A trained vaccinator is worth at least
Rs. 20 per mensem, considering the very important duties that he has to perform; but
to prevent the man leaving the department at the end of each season to find other
occupation, we craftily spread his pay over the whole year, and bind him by monthly
pecuniary allurements to continue a member of the vaccine fraternity, to our great
gain and not to his loss in the long run. The principle is not unknown and
unpractised in many other departments. But as to the question of supervision of the
cantonment vaccinators, differences of opinion may arise. To avoid any clashing of
authorities, it would be in some ways desirable to leave it in the hands of the station
medical officer; but as regards the effective carrying out of the scheme, I am disposed
to think it would run better in our hands, as we have the agency and the experience.
Having pointed out my views, I leave the matter in the hands of Government for
decision. We are not anxious to undertake it, but are prepared to do so if the Govern-
ment thinks it advisable. But we must in the latter case stipulate for one concession,