6         VACCINATION PROCEEDINGS THROUGHOUT

diminution of the number of stations was followed by an alarming
lessening of the numbers vaccinated from 61.910 in 1830, to 15.119
in 1832. This state of things called forth the remonstrances of the
Medical Board, and the Government, in consequence, ordered that
from January 1835 a vaccine allowance for local superintendence of
Rs. 20 per month, should be given to all Assistant Surgeons at civil
stations, whose allowances do not exceed Rs. 300 a month; for this they
were to vaccinate themselves, and teach their Native Doctors to vaccinate
around them; a vaccinator was employed at many zillah stations.

Dispensary
vaccination.

11. An important advance next took place in 1839 by the setting
up of dispensaries at 12 large towns in all parts of the Presidency;
the establishments costing each, upon an average, Rs. 250 a month.
These dispensaries were under the superintendence of the Civil Surgeon,
an educated Native Doctor, with a salary varying from Rs. 40 to 100,
was put in immediate medical charge, two or three subordinate
assistants, capable of performing vaccination, were attached to the
dispensaries.

Large vaccine
depôts abolished.

12. By order of the Government of India in April 1842, the
allowance of Rs. 100 a month, being part of the Rs. 160 to the Civil
Surgeons, Superintendents of Vaccine Depôts, at Dacca, Moorshedabad
and Patna, was put a stop to.

The Govern-
ment vaccinators
of districts be-
come dispensary
servants Civil
Surgeons are
called upon to
pay more atten-
tion to vaccina-
tion.

Vaccinators'
pay increased.

13. In 1853, the Medical Board again drew the attention of all
medical officers to the obligation bearing upon them to advance the
work of vaccination, especially in connection with Charitable Dispen-
saries. The Government Native Vaccinators, two in number at most
civil stations, were then placed at the dispensaries where such existed.
They were to operate under the eye of the Civil Surgeon, the Super-
intendent, and of the Sub-Assistant Surgeon in charge. They were to
resort on certain days of the week to different public places of the town,
and there to vaccinate in the presence of the medical officers; careful
registers were to be kept of their work ; the pay of the vaccinators
was raised to Rs. 10 each. This system has continued in Bengal
Proper up to the present day.

Deputation
and travelling
allowance given
to Civil Surgeons
for inspecting
vaccination.

14. The Bengal Government, in November 1867, granted travelling
and deputation allowance to Civil Surgeons for going out into their dis-
tricts, and visiting the vaccinators, and inspecting their work. This is
a step in advance certainly, but it is inefficient and not likely to
bear much fruit. The Civil Surgeons have not time for the work; the
inspections are scanty and intermittent. A good deal of good may be