( 3A )
In Aligarh two extra vaccinators accompanied the Collector and the Joint-Magis-
trate, wherever they went in the district. Wherever district officers encamped, the
vaccinators performed a few operations, getting lymph for the purpose from some
other vaccinator. This arrangement is bad. These men could seldom test the work
they did, and other vaccinators would not willingly test it, for the latter could not
count this work as their own. If the district can pay for extra vaccinators it would
be much better to employ them in the abandoned villages around municipalities and
towns from which municipal and local vaccinators have been excluded.
In all districts there are still some villages, though decreasing year by year, in
which vaccination is unpopular. I have visited as many of these as possible, and in-
variably with good result. There is one inducement which never fails in these villages
if combined with patience. It is the all-powerful pice, a pice to each child brought to
be vaccinated. This wonderful talisman soon converts sour looks into smiles and
laughter. Doors hitherto shut are flung open, and it is oftener the lymph that fails
than the candidates for pice and vaccination.
In 1892-93 the quality of the work done was generally very good, above the aver-
age. That of 1893-94) was less satisfactory. Much was excellent, but much was in-
different. Vaccinators vary exceedingly in the quality of the work they do. Some
use only good lymph. Others seem to care little whether the vesicle from which
lymph is to be taken is of good or indifferent quality, whether immature or too old.
In work of this kind a good crust is seldom seen. The vesicles break before
the 7th day, and fresh lymph has continually to be sent from elsewhere to these men.
A calf lymph depôt for the circle is much needed. To improve the lymph in
Mainpuri, the Civil Surgeon on three occasions vaccinated a buffalo calf. Of 16 chil-
dren vaccinated from this lymph, 15 proved successful. Some of the lymph was
mixed with lanoline and with this lanoline lymph 19 children were vaccinated.
Of these only 6 proved successful.
In Agra 871 vaccinations were made with bovine lymph, of which 691 were
successful. The percentage of successful cases was 86.26. In no other district was
animal lymph used.
Of 12,140 primary vaccinations seen by me, 485 were non-successful and 741 had
only one vesicle or mark. Only 15 had more than two marks. The departmental
orders to vaccinate in 4 places has therefore been little heeded.
In three districts in the plains vaccination was continued throughout the hot
weather, viz., Agra, Muttra and Etah. In Etah the lymph degenerated but was
renewed. In the other 8 districts (excluding Dehra Dun), lymph degenerated, or
ulcerations resulted, or the people objected, and the work was stopped. Vaccination
in the hot weather is, of course, very unpopular with the vaccinators themselves.
This is not to be wondered at seeing, that when the seniors entered the department,
the vaccination season was only of 5 months' duration. Now it is nearly seven—20th
September—22nd April; vaccinators may also at any time in the hot weather be sent
on cholera duty, distributing medicines.
The service was much more popular when vaccinators could be at their homes
from 15th April till 1st November.
Concise reports for each district by the District Superintendents of Vaccination
are enclosed in original. They give details regarding vaccination in municipal towns.
In few of the municipalities have registers I and II been properly kept up. Some
District Superintendents think the Vaccination Act unworkable. Civil Surgeons
have not leisure to personally visit every house in which there is an unvaccinated
child above 6 months old, and very few children are brought to the Vaccination Stations.
Had municipal vaccinators not gone back to the old plan of vaccinating children
at their homes, the Act would have greatly decreased instead of increasing the
number vaccinated.