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not previously been a success. It is in the present instance being conducted by the
Civil Surgeon, Dr. Reid, and is certain to receive at his hands a most careful and
patient trial. In the Meerut District, municipal vaccination has at length been brought
upon the same footing as in the other districts. Formerly the appointment of vacci-
nators rested with the committees, and with them hakeems on high salaries were popu-
lar. These men were but indifferent vaccinators ; but as they satisfied their patrons,
little effectual objection could be made by this department. Last season, some of the
municipalities reduced the salaries of their hakeems, and as a consequence one or two
resigned. Men were selected by the Magistrate to replace these, and to fill the appoint-
ments at Haupper and Pilkooah, but various excuses were given by all of them for failing
to be present at the commencement of the working season. After a month had been
lost, vaccinators were, at the request of the Magistrate, furnished by this department.
Although inexperienced, these latter, unlike the hakeems, were young men and capable
of work. The result has been that in four months they have done more work than
their predecessors did in five, and at little more than half the cost.
Whilst encamped near one large municipal town, I had an opportunity of witness-
ing the warm interest which native officials and members of municipalities take in the
cause of education as compared with vaccination. Shortly after my arrival a circle
inspector of schools appeared on the ground. The number of well-dressed natives who
jostled each other to obtain the honour of an interview with this official would, to any
one but my slighted self, have been most gratifying to behold. Children in their
holiday costume, with books and slates, swarmed in the streets, and the town was, for
the time being, given over to education. With my vaccinator I endeavoured to do a
little work in the back-streets and lanes,—but our wares were not wanted; and after
wandering about for several hours, we were obliged to slink back to the tents, tired
and discomfited. During the time I remained at this place, not a single native of any
position waited upon me or paid me the slightest attention.
11. As usual, a few vaccinators have been unable to repress their tendency to
falsify their registers, and have consequently been got rid of. I have found from
experience, that when a man has once been guilty of this offence, no fear of consequences
will keep him from repeating it, provided there is the remotest chance of his escaping
detection. The only remedy is, I fear, dismissal. Much depends upon the native
superintendents, and I regret to say there are some of those in this circle not at all what
they should be. I would instance those of the Seharunpore, Boolundshuhur and Etah
Districts. The first is indifferently educated, unreliable, and wanting in judgment; the
second is most energetic and well-meaning, but his energy is misdirected and lands
him in confusion ; the last is a weak, spiritless creature, held cheap by his vaccinators,
and constantly applying to others for assistance, which an efficient officer should not
require. It would be a good thing if the plan adopted by Mr. Ross, the Superintendent
of the Doon, were followed elsewhere. From the monthly returns he selects the
names of a few villages, and directs one of his tuhseeldars to test the accuracy of the
vaccinator's registers in these. The effect of such enquiry is most beneficial as a check
upon the vaccinators, besides proving to the people that vaccination is an authorita-
tively recognized measure of Government.
12. The vaccine lymph collected in Tehree Gurhwal and Jounsar was all that
could be desired. On the 15th of May I personally established the vaccine vesicle in
the village of Sure, to the west of Jummootrie, with lymph received in capillary tubes
from England. Exactly half the number of tubes were successful. The first vesicles
were very feeble-looking ; but those resulting from the lymph taken from them were
more vigorous. The vaccinators tell me that this is constantly the case with English
lymph first used in cold parts of the hills. Throughout Tehree I have heard of no
deaths from small-pox, and only of a few persons living on the range of hills bordering
the Doon having been attacked. If those hill-people now enjoy a tolerable immunity
8v