( 9 )

From the 1st of April to the 30th of June 1889 these two vaccinators
operated upon 1,475 persons, of which 806 were infants, 575 between one and
six years, and 11 children over six and adults. The percentage of success
attained was 94.37, and the proportion of the Melghat population protected
32.63 per 1,000.

The taluk of Melghat, a section of the Satpura hills, has an area of 1,649
square miles. It is a mountainous and rugged region, extremely unhealthy
and feverish, except on the higher ridges, and during the hot season.

The population of the taluk, according to last census, is 42,655, and the
number of inhabited villages 313.

The population is scattered, 25.86 to a square mile, and consists chiefly of
aborigines—Korkus and Gonds.

No vital statistical returns are received from this tract of country, and it is
not included in the area under vaccination, though from time to time intermit-
tent attempts have been made to familiarize the people with the operation by
sending vaccinators into the hills during the hot-weather months.

The hill people are very timid and hold some extravagant beliefs and pre-
judices regarding vaccination. In consequence, the vaccinators at first, met
with considerable opposition; in some instances the people drove them out, of
their villages, and in others they themselves flud into the jungle on hearing of the
vaccinator's approach. Through the exertions and very valuable assistance ren-
dered by the then Deputy Commissioner, Colonel Mackenzie, and his Forest Officer,
Mr. Ballantyne, vaccination however was gradually introduced, and these pri-
mitive people have, in a measure, come to be familiarized with the presence of
the vaccinator, who can now venture alone where before he dare not go unac-
companied by a forest official or some other Government officer trusted by these
people.

The time has now come, however, when a special establishment may be
entertained for the Melghat, but the climate is so very unhealthy that scarcely
any one from the plains going into these hills escape the fever. Though the
hot season is the healthiest time of the year in this malarious tract, yet the vac-
cinators invariably suffer from fever on their return to the plains, and which
has incapacitated men for months.

It would be desirable to entertain, if possible, hill-men inured to the cli-
mate for Melghat, but a separate proposal will be submitted in this connection.

Dispensary vaccination.

13. There were 40 dispensaries, or one more
than in the preceding year, where vaccination was
carried on.

The following table shows the progress of vaccination in dispensaries by
districts :—

TABLE No. 11.—Showing Dispensary Vaccination in different districts for three years compared.

B-164—3