( 16 )
Restriction of operations to certain
seasons.
39. Operations in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, and the hill tracts
were formerly restricted to well-defined periods.
In the hill tracts, operations were confined to the
period of seven months from October to April, and in the plains to the period from the
1st November to 25th March. In the Municipalities of the hill tracts operations are
now legal throughout the year, and in the other Municipalities from 1st October to
31st March. In some parts of India, and in the Presidency towns of Calcutta and
Bombay, operations are carried on throughout the year, and it seems advisable to
extend vaccination to any period and season, during the occurrence of epidemic
small-pox. The risk of untoward results following operations by experts in India in
the hot weather has been much exaggerated, and is very slight, in view of the
protection from a loathsome and very fatal disease.
The arm-to-arm system of operation
the readiest and safest.
40. The extension of vaccination by arm-to-arm operation is the safest and
most effective method, and while it is necessary to
encourage the cultivation of calf lymph at certain
centres where sanitary and veterinary precautions can be rigorously carried out, the
indiscriminate use of animal and preserved lymph should be discouraged. Calf lymph
can only be effectively and safely used when perfectly fresh, or carefully preserved
on antiseptic principles.
Necessity of loyal co-operation of vac-
cination staff with district officials.
41. The active assistance required of Deputy and Native Superintendents by the
local authorities in extending operations has not in
some instances been freely given, and loyal co-opera-
tion has been markedly withheld in one or two cases. So much so that it is reported
of one Native Superintendent that he gave the district officer a wide berth through-
out the whole camping season, and it is further urged that he instigated his subordi-
nates to keep aloof and hinder the work carried on by officers, whose sole desire was
to extend and give an impetus to operations in backward localities.
Conduct of subordinates.
42. The conduct of Deputy and Native Superintendents was generally satisfac-
tory : two Native Superintendents were reduced in
the 2nd and 3rd circles respectively for neglect of
duty. In the 1st circle seven vaccinators, in the 2nd circle fourteen, and in the 3rd
circle, seven were dismissed for irregularity of conduct, and falsification of their
registers. The services of four apprentice vaccinators in the 1st circle, and three in the
2nd circle, were dispensed with for general inefficiency.
Munshi Wazir Ali, Deputy Superintendent of the Agra Division, who is about to
retire from the service, has as usual done good work and rendered faithful and loyal
service. This Deputy Superintendent has maintained a high standard of vaccination
in his division, while repressing and fearlessly exposing irregularities of conduct among
subordinates.
Prompt dismissal of subordinates
tampering with records.
43. Much has been done within the past few years to rid the department of
subordinates whose sole business was to submit
favorable returns whether incorrect or otherwise;
and no one has rendered greater assistance in detecting and promptly reporting existing
evils than the Deputy Superintendent of the Agra Division, whose services deserve
special mention and recognition.
A rapid and steady advance in vaccina-
tion and lessening opposition.
44. The progressive, and favorable results of the operations, of the past few years
indicate a steady and rapid advance in vaccination
in the United Provinces. In Oudh especially the
advance has been considerable, and much of the prejudice against the operation which
formerly existed has disappeared. In a few years hence it will be practicable, by
careful and conciliatory methods, to vaccinate in the United Provinces up to the
standard of the United Kingdom.
NAINI TAL,
Dated 17 th June 1893.
G. HUTCHESON, M.D., SURGEON-LIEUT.-COL.,
Sanitary Commissioner, N.- W. Provinces and Oudh.