( 2 )
This was owing partly to the fact that the elimate of Upper Gurhwal is colder than that
of England, but principally from its being so much nearer the plains of India. A
crust collected in England could hardly be brought into use in India until after a
period of two or three months, while one collected in Gurhwal could be used in less
than as many weeks.
4. In consequence of Dr. Pearson's success in Gurhwal, he was ordered to
extend vaccination to Kumaon; and in the year 1855 he was ordered to introduce it
into Rohilkhund. In 1856, a second circle, that of Agra and Meerut, was formed, under
the superintendence of Dr. Farquhar; and in 1863 two other circles were organized,
and Dr. Pearson, hitherto only Superintendent of Kumaon and Rohilkhund, was
appointed to act as Superintendent-General of Vaticination in addition to his other
duties.
5. The Vaccinators employed in these four circles are regularly supplied with
lymph from the Kumaon and Gurhwal Depôt, thus saving Government a large sum
which would be spent if the necessary lymph were annually imported from England.
Lymph is also supplied gratuitously from the Kumaon and Gurhwal Depôt to most of
the Inspectors of Hospitals, Civil Surgeons, and Regimental Officers stationed in the
North-Western Provinces, as well as to many in Bengal, the Punjab, Oudh and the
Central Provinces.
The following quantities of lymph have been supplied during the last five years
from the Kumaon and Gurhwal Depôt:—
Years.
1865-66
1866-67
1867-68
1868-69
1869-70
Tubes.
... 1,895
... 2,214
... 4,147
... 4,156
... 4,040
Crusts.
... 19,150
... 22,315
... 19,863
... 16,529
... 14,592
6. The system of vaccination adopted by Dr. Pearson has often been called the
Bombay system, and in some respects the two systems agree. In the North-Western
Provinces, however, the circles are much larger than they are in Bombay. To enable
the European Officer to superintend the large number of Vaccinators placed under
him, Dr. Pearson introduced the plan of having a Native Superintendent on Rs. 20
a month, in charge of each Zillah. This modification of the Bombay system, ori-
ginated by Dr. Pearson, has been copied in other parts of the Bengal Presidency;
and at various times Vaccinators trained under him have been applied for, and sent
to act as Native Superintendents in other Provinces. Thus, in 1867, three Vaccinators
were sent from Rohilkhund to act as Native Superintendents of the Darjecling Circle
in Bengal; one Vaccinator was sent to Bhurtpore ; another to the Central Provinces ;
and in 1869 three Vaccinators were sent from the Allahabad Circle to act as Native
Superintendents of the Hazareebagh Circle.
7. Another improvement was introduced into India by Dr. Pearson.
In
England, vaccination is generally performed by the lancet, and this method has many
advantages. Six punctures are generally made, three on each arm, and if the whole
six take effect there is an abundant supply of lymph with which to vaccinate other
children. Dr. Pearson, however, perceived that this method was not suited for the
plains of India. Vaccination by the lancet is a somewhat painful operation, and it is
difficult to operate without drawing a small quantity of blood. The appearance of
this blood was a constant source of terror to the Hindoo parents. Dr. Pearson there-
fore adopted an instrument called the vaccine needle. When vaccination is per-
formed by this instrument, it is almost painless, and no blood is drawn.