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Mahomedans of the Meerut and Moozuffernuggur Districts ; whilst in the part of
the Muttra District on the right bank of the Jumna, Mahomedan vaccinators would
probably not be tolerated. In the Agra District likewise, Mussulman vaccinators
have not been successful. Excluding the hill country and the Doon, in which there
are no Mahomedan vaccinators, and which, from the great difference in climate, could
not be fairly compared with the other districts, I find from the returns that, whilst
each of the 29-Hindoo vaccinators on an average operated upon 1,037 persons, with
a percentage of 92.7 successful cases, each of the 96 Mahomedan vaccinators operated
upon 1,172 persons, with a percentage of 87.4 successful cases. From this it would
appear that the Mahomedan is justly credited with greater energy, but that whilst
the Hindoo does less work he does it greatly better.
10. Astonishing differences will be observed between the progress being made in
contiguous districts. Agra is partly surrounded by Muttra, Mynpoory, and Etawah,
but in all of these three, vaccination flourishes ; whilst in Agra it not only makes no
progress, but even tends to retrograde. In the Etawah District, six vaccinators
accomplish nearly as much work as 15 amongst a similar population in the Agra District.
In Etawah, without increase to the vaccine establishment, the numbers vaccinated
have within three years nearly trebled,—a result due in main part to the hearty
interest taken in vaccination by the civil authorities, and more especially by Mr. Low,
lately transferred to Bareilly. On the other hand,. Agra has been unfortunate in its
native superintendent and in many of its vaccinators'. The former has been replaced,
and the latter are being gradually got rid of. This change, together with the interest
which the Magistrate, Mr. Simson, takes in the subject, may be expected by degrees
to restore vaccination to its proper footing. The case of the Allahabad District, des-
cribed by Dr. Watson, is an instance of the difficulty experienced in bringing about
an improvement after vaccination has for some reason begun to languish or retro-
grade. In the Meerut District, which last season was likewise somewhat backward,
a considerable improvement is observable, both in the quantity and quality of the
work done. It is fortunate in possessing an indefatigable native superintendent
and many hard-working vaccinators. In both Moozuffernuggur and Boolundshuhur
vaccination owes its satisfactory progress, in the former to the Assistant Magistrate,
Mr. Williams, and in the latter to Mr. Willock. In fact, it may be said generally
that in those districts in which the civil authorities distinctly let it be understood to be
their wish that the people should accept of vaccination, opposition at once begins to
diminish. After observing the mode in which the prejudices of the people are dealt
with, and of course properly dealt with, in villages suspected of infanticide, it is
not a little curious to find some district authorities taking so much trouble to assure
the same people that the acceptance of an antidote, all but absolute in its efficacy,
against the death or mutilation of their children by a disease which will nearly inevit-
ably attack them, is purely optional. Of the feelings of the people with regard to
the doubtless necessary mode of conducting inquiries amongst those suspected of
infanticide I have had some opportunities of judging. Compared with the official sent
to make these inquiries I think I can safely assert that the vaccinator is by no means
an unwelcome visitor. I know it to be the opinion of some of the ablest Magistrates
in this circle, that there would not be the slightest objection on the part of the people to
vaccination were they made to understand that they must accept of it. Without
going so far as this, I believe that much more might be done in some districts without
the semblance of compulsion in the same way as I have stated ; much has already been
done in others. Of municipal vaccination the same might be said as of rural vaccina-
tion. When the Magistrate or any influential member of the committee interests
himself in the subject, progress is assured. When the vaccinator is left to his own
resources, he has soon, from want of subjects, to betake himself to the surrounding
villages. The municipal committee of Furruckabad have resolvedt o try how a trained
female vaccinator would succeed, believing that she would be more likely to have
access to the families of the better classes. The experiment is not a new one, and has