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                                          SOUTHERN CIRCLE.

                  Superintendent.—Assistant Surgeon F. H. PLUMPTRE.
                  Establishment.—Twenty-seven Vaccinators (Government).

                                    Nineteen Vaccinators (Native Chiefs).

I regret that the above table presents a falling off in the number vaccinated during the
past year, but there are circumstances which tend to account for this, without implying any
additional opposition to the progress of vaccination, among the population, or special
indolence on the part of the executive staff of the establishment.

The year under review was no ordinary one to be contrasted with, as in the year preceding,
when under the superintendency of Dr. Asher, the number vaccinated amounted to an
increase of 5,014.

The past year has been one of hard trial to the whole establishment from the high prices
of provisions prevailing through all the zillas of this Circle, telling most seriously upon all
classes of public servants receiving rates of pay so low as that of the vaccinators. I have
received during the year numerous letters from members of the establishment, on the diffi-
culties they have had to contend with on this account. This general dearness has led to two
results, both of which would tend materially to interfere with the progress of work.
Many have been obliged to give up keeping a tattoo, and secondly I believe the vaccinators
have been induced to remain longer than they should have done in those localities, which
possessed the attraction of grain selling for a seer or two cheaper than in others. It has
only been by my exercising a strict inquiry on every occasion when returns have been unsatis-
factory, that I have been able to keep up the numbers to what they have been. Under these
circumstances the gross return cannot be regarded as unsatisfactory, for although there is a
decrease as compared with 1862, yet contrasting it with the year preceding that (1861), there
is an increase of 3,289.

I have now to refer to one change which, though not immediately affecting the present
establishment, must be regarded as of the highest importance, and which, to a certain extent,
will influence the future working of the Government vaccinators in this Circle should the
plan be extensively carried out in the other zillahs. I allude to the introduction of the system
of Municipal Commissions employing at their expense vaccinators in their Municipalities. This
was first suggested in paragraph 80 of the Report on vaccination in this Presidency for 1862
by the Principal Inspector-General Medical Department, and further recommended in para-