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important project on a firm basis. Mr. Ward's first experiment with the municipal
hakeem vaccinator at Baghput was not very successful, yet a failure or two at first should
act only as beacons to avoid the dangers that caused them, and not lead to giving up
the project. While at Boolundshuhur, I had several applications from the sons of ha-
keems for leave to study vaccination, but as they applied at the close of the season,
their instruction was obliged to stand over till the next, though I supplied them at
once with the vaccine pamphlet and copies of the forms in use in the department.
I am particularly anxious that these applicants should be thoroughly taught before
they are permitted to vaccinate, as much of their future success, and, indeed, of this
branch of the present scheme, will depend upon their thoroughly knowing their duties
theoretically before entering on them practically. I am in hopes that through these
hakeem vaccinators I shall be able to reach the children of the class of the commu-
nity above alluded to, as vast numbers of them are, I fear, unprotected.
Inoculation.
14. As this subject is noticed in column No. 8 of Statement No. V., I may
make a passing allusion to it here, though merely
to say that the practice of inoculation has, as far as
I can hear, entirely departed from my divisions, never, I hope, to return. Having
on two separate occasions fully discussed the subject of inoculation, in most if not all
is bearings, from personal observation, once in 1867, when the report was submitted
to the Government of the North-Western Provinces, and again in 1870, when it
was sent to the Inspector-General of Hospitals, H. M.'s Indian Army, I will not
re-open the subject here, except to state that the practice seems to have been con-
fined to the Himalayan portion of my divisions and Dehra Doon, and also to the
northern parts of Saharunpore ; and, if I might take the facility with which vaccina-
tion has superseded it in Tehree, Ghurwal, and Dehra Doon as a test, my only regret
is that inoculation was not general in my divisions, as I think it must be allowed
that where it is practised a great deal of ground is gained, as it proves the fact of the
population virtually acknowledging the necessity of some prophylactic against small-
pox other than religious festivals and observances. Here it may not be out of place
to allude to the festival called the " Seetlah Poojah." " Seetlah," as is probably known,
is the name of the goddess who presides over small-pox, and in many districts " Seetlah"
is the only name for this disease. At these " Seetlah" festivals, cases of small-pox in
every stage of the disease are to be met with, and not unfrequently deputations are to be
seen which have come from the neighbouring villages, with gifts, &c, for the shrine, in the
hope that the goddess will accept them, and spare their villages from the fatal disease;
but, alas! the reverse is too often the case, and these unfortunate people carry back the
poison of disease to their villages, and thus innocently are the means, not only of bring-
ing the scourge to their own villages, but of spreading the infection over the country.
I would, therefore, suggest that orders be issued, prohibiting, under certain penalties,
the custom of taking cases of small-pox, no matter at what stage of the disease, to
these " Seetlah" festivals, or, indeed, among any other large concourse of people.
Steps are taken by the authorities, under the orders of the Government, to prevent
loss of life at Hurdwar, Juggernath, &c., during the celebration of the religious festivals
at these places, and this interest is, generally speaking, exhibited on the behalf of those
who are or ought to be capable of taking care of themselves. I trust, therefore, that
the poor innocent children for whom I plead will not be denied their share of the pro-
tection which the Government has extended to the fully responsible devotees at Hurd-
war, Juggernath, &c. No alarm need be felt on the score of interference with either
a religious prejudice or ceremony, if any conclusion may be drawn from the case of
the car of Juggernath, which has for years been surrounded with nets, to prevent
the devotees being crushed under the wheels. On one occasion, when I was at Jugger¬
nath, these nets were the means of preventing what otherwise might have been an
immense loss of life; and yet, I never heard that sanctity of the car was injuriously
affected, or the procession robbed of any of its accessories, except, perhaps, being de-
prived of what I once witnessed, viz., a few mangled bodies on the road. It is true