STATE ENCOURAGEMENT OF INOCULATION IN BENGAL! Tiie Pioneer has fallen into the report of vaccination in
strange mistake. In noticing Bengal for the year 1871-72,
a
Mr. Campbell is represented as "anxious to largely introduced under official supervision, more
regularly trained
vernor
see
inoculation
and inoculators
and
is also said to have
employed!" The Lieutenant-Go"expressed his willingness to pro-
vide in the next
budget for an extension of inoculation!" only is Mr. Campbell's resolution on the vaccine report thus curiously misrepresented, but the Pioneer awards hiin which the civilized very high praise for encouraging a practice world is a creed means, now that vaccination is known, a wanton destruction of human life. The public recognition and encouragement of inoculation at this time of day would certainly constitute a phase of conservatism which we should not feel much disposed to applaud, and the entire extinction of Not
inoculation, and the substitution of vaccination for it in Bengal, would constitute a species of revolution which wo should incline most devoutly to pray for. Had the Pioneer read the resolution with care, far less the report which it notices, it would have discovered that Mr. Campbell did certainly approve the
employment public funds
of
supervision
for them ; but he
been
carefully taught
vaccinators. runs
inoculators,
and
encouraged the allotment of practice, and provide proper did so only?after they had
to aid them in their
thus:?
The 12th
vaccination and licensed as competent
paragraph
of His
Honor's resolution
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
22
impossible to attach too great importance to the plan the regular inoculators to take up the practice of The scheme suggested of attaching them as vaccination. to the circles during the working season has been apprentices the and plan of settling them hereafter as licensed approved, vaccinators for particular tracts, subject to inspection, and submitting registers of their work, seems a good one. Beyond this, however, no interference should be attempted between them and their patients. They should be allowed to take such fees and perform such ceremonies as they may think right. The Lieute"It is
of
inducing
nant-Governor will look with interest for the results of all
ex-
periments of this kind." A glance through the report of the Inspector-General of Hospitals would have shown the Pioneer that
tion,
a
great deal has already been done in Bengal in this direc-
and that the movement to induce the
tioners of inoculation to
promising
one.
some
indigenous practi-
it for vaccination is
We trust to the Pioneer
truth to correct this transfer
exchange
s sense
mistake, and in doing so it will interesting information
of the very
a
most
of fairness and do well to which
Dr.
Brown has recorded to its pages for the benefit of its professional readers.
[Jaiojauy 1,
1873.