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cannot speak in equally favourable terms of the three others I saw. Of the remaining
three I can only speak by the results of their work, which for Cawnpore and Jounpore
are very satisfactory. Amongst the Vaccinators there is necessarily a considerable
diversity in character and qualifications; some have been found untrustworthy
and have been discharged, and others again have been lazy and careless. The
Mahomedans, as a rule, are the most active and successful; the high caste Hindoo
is, as a rule, indolent, and he expends a needless time in the operations of cooking
and bathing, and above all exhibits a decided repugnance to carrying on work
amongst the lowest castes. But still it would not be politic to entertain the Mahomedan
to the exclusion of the Hindoo. The most efficient establishment, of course, would be
a Mahomedan and a Hindoo Vaccinator attached to each Tehseel, but this would entail
an amount of expenditure which would not be advisable.
6. The prejudice against vaccination amongst the population at large continues
to be very considerable, and the most absurd stories of the objects we have in view
are circulated on every hand. One of the most absurd is that the crusts which are
collected from the arms of the children are employed in some mysterious manner for
the support of our Railway. So long as the crusts are gathered, so long will the
Railways continue to work. The consequence of this belief is that the parents are
very averse to allowing the crusts to form properly, but are always tearing them off
in the process of forming.
There are comparatively few natives who, if left entirely to themselves, would
have their children vaccinated ; the great majority are opposed to it, and would be glad
were they never to see the face of a Vaccinator again.
7. This prejudice would be lessened by the introduction of animal vaccination.
This would be a great desideratum as affording the means of obtaining a plentiful sup-
ply of active and pure lymph, and so ensuring a large percentage of successful cases—
a most desirable end—and meeting the natural scruples and prejudices of the
population.
In many instances they could have ocular demonstration of the source of the
lymph, and the Hindoos would appreciate the fact that the very medicine which was
intended to mitigate the ravages of small-pox was derived from the sacred cow.
The establishment of animal vaccination would be attended by a certain expense,
but this would be amply repaid by the benefits which would accrue.
8. It seems to me very desirable that Government should adopt measures to give
an impetus to the work of vaccination. I do not advocate compulsory vaccination,
but simply that the Magistrate of each Zillah should be authorized to issue a Purwana
calling upon the people to come forward to receive freely the benefits which the Go-
vernment, at so much cost, are anxious to press upon their acceptance. To leave the
great mass of natives simply to their free action is at once to place an effectual bar to
the progress of the work, but if they are made acquainted with the wish of the
Government they will submit to vaccination readly, if not cheerfully.
My statements are borne out by the remarkable success which attended vaccina-
tion in Humeerpore during the season of 1868-69, when the then Magistrate used his
personal influence in a most successful manner to induce the people to accept vaccina¬
tion. This success was all the more remarkable as the population of Humeerpore is
chiefly Hindoo.
9. As it is, the work of the vaccinators is one requiring tact and patience, as they
have to deal with an ignorant people who seem to have no confidence in our motives,
and who are, on many grounds, opposed to the practice.