55

Hence there has been great difficulty in ascertaining accurately the result in each operation
which is of paramount importance, and which will not, I apprehend, be accomplished until
Government is moved to render, by enactment, vaccination compulsory.

The difficulty and vexation in procuring and retaining heifers for operation is not the
less felt, although a liberal compensation is offered and paid to their owners for the loan of
them for a week or 10 days. To prevent removal from the dispensary of the calves by acts of
violence on the part of their ignorant owners during the past year, I was obliged to have
them brought to my own place of residence, by which I had the satisfaction to find that the
animals were better taken care of with regard to their proper and regular feeding and water-
ing. By this arrangement the evil, although partially abated, was, I am sorry to say, not
entirely and effectually removed; for on one occasion, just at the time of the operation, a calf
was forcibly carried away by its owner from my house, and when the aid of the police
authority was invoked they distinctly gave me to understand that, under the existing regula-
tions, they could not afford the assistance asked for.

Some of the evils and difficulties attendant upon the ignorant and illiterate state of the
people, coupled with the superstitious manners and customs prevailing in this part of the
Circle, and which cannot be fully known except by the persons concerned, are graphically
described by the Superintendent of Vaccination, Central Circle, at page 8, para. 2, of the
printed report for the year 1870-71.

In spite of the favorable result above given, on the introduction, for the first time, of
animal vaccination, I am grieved to observe the uncharitable remark made by the Superin-
tendent General in the report quoted above at page 30, para. 36 : " After the rains were over,
Sub-Assistant Surgeon Bálkrishna Chintobá, who is in charge of the Charitable Dispensary
in Púná, continued the practice for some time, but finally lost his lymph, and also, I think,
his inclination to be troubled with animal vaccination," especially so when the amount of
trouble and anxiety I had to undergo in addition to those incident to my usual dispensary
duties are taken into consideration.

In conclusion, I have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of lymph kindly sent by
Dr. Anantá, and also his valuable advice, personally given while he was here on leave for
a few days, regarding the keeping of a sufficient quantity of lymph in reserve for cases of
emergency.