( vi )

Total.. 267,995

17.     I mentioned in the last report, as a proof that vaccination was gradu-
ally making its way into general favour with the people, that the proportion
of operations in the infantile population was steadily increasing. The number
of vaccinations in 1862 in children under one year of age was 80,177. The
returns for 1863 give 92,948, being an increase of 12,771.

18.     To a certain extent this is no doubt satisfactory, but I hope to find a
still larger increase year by year. The feelings and prejudices of the people
on this point seem to vary very much in different localities. Thus, while the
returns from the Deccan and Southern Maratha Country continue to be con-
spicuous, above all others, for their very large proportion of operations in
persons above one year of age, those from Kattiawar and Sind are much more
satisfactory; while in the Collectorates of Gujerat the number of vaccinations
in children under one year of age was actually larger than in those above it.

19.     It is remarked, indeed, by the Superintendent of the Northern Circle,
that the unwillingness to submit young infants to vaccination, which is ob-
served elswhere, is rarely met with in Gujerat. The returns from the Civil
Surgeons at Ahmedabad, Kaira, Broach, and Surat, give evidence to the
same effect. They all show a very large proportion of operations in early
life. At Shikarpoor there seem to be no prejudices on the subject, for while
only 252 vaccinations were performed in persons above one year of age, no
less than 1,366 were in children under that age.

20.     I have dwelt at some length on this point, because I regard it as one
of very great importance, inasmuch as the result of the accumulated experi-
ence of Europe shows that vaccination during infancy, properly performed,
gives a far greater security from small-pox, than when resorted to at any
later age. I would therefore very earnestly entreat the Superintendents of the
Central and Southern Circles,—in which the prejudices against early vaccina-
tion are much stronger than elsewhere,—to endeavour by every means in
their power to overcome these prejudices, and to make parents comprehend
its paramount advantages.

21.    The question assumes a still greater importance, when it is borne in
mind that the occurrence of a case of small-pox after vaccination does great
mischief by increasing the feeling of distrust, which prevails among the Native