ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS FROM CIVIL SURGEONS.
63
They were late in starting the season's work, owing to the failure of lymph ; and it was not
till the middle of December that they succeeded in establishing virus. The civil surgeon's
plan was to perform systematic vaccination in section after section of the sudder station, and
one village after another. The civil authorities gave every help. The two men performed
594 vaccinations, of which 326 were successful; and 181 re-vaccinations, with 52 successful
cases. The civil surgeon inspected the work once a week, and was satisfied with its quality.
The people in and around the town are beginning to see the benefits of vaccination. Inocula-
tion is said to be almost universal in the district. No inoculator was trained. There was
very little small-pox in the district, and the few cases that occurred were very successfully
treated with carbolic oil. Dr. Cowan records several cases thus treated with the happiest
results. At the Brahmunberiah branch dispensary one vaccinator was employed on Rs. 10
for three months, by the dispensary committee. He vaccinated 75 persons, of whom 67
were successful. The cases were inspected by the native doctor in charge of the dispensary.
ASSAM AND ADJACENT HILLS.
Goalpara.
Goalpara district.—Mr. Slane, civil medical officer, reports, there is one Government
vaccinator attached to the dispensary throughout the year, on a salary of Rs. 10, He began
work in October, and confined his operations to a group of villages selected by the medical officer.
The civil authorities gave every assistance. Three hundred and two persons are said to have been
vaccinated, of whom 292, or 88.07 per cent, were successful. Mr. Slane inspected the work only
three times, and regrets he could not spare more time, as there was considerable sickness among
the European population. The people are bigotedly opposed to vaccination. Inoculation is
almost general, and causes, it is said, a mortality of 2 per cent. Three inoculators consented
to learn vaccination, and were employed as assistants to the vaccinators, for which they were
allowed Rs. 5 each. Small-pox was unusually prevalent, and preventive measures could not
be taken, as the people shunned treatment and concealed cases.
Gowhatty
Gowhatty district.—Dr. Russel, civil surgeon, reports there were fifty-six public
vaccinators, including one inspector at Rs. 15, from 21st January to 30th April, and one
municipal vaccinator on Rs. 10 throughout the year. The men were sent out by mowjahs,
which they were allowed to select. The deputy commissioner had two men following his
camp, and exerted himself actively in inducing the natives to seek protection by vaccination.
The district superintendent of police also had one man following his camp, and he similarly
exerted himself. The mowjadars.and other influential natives were requested to assist.
Ten thousand six hundred and eighty-four primary, and 790 secondary, vaccinations were
performed, with a success of 90.15 and 86.83 per cent., respectively. The civil surgeon's
inspection was chiefly confined to places near the station. The vaccination inspected is said to
have, been of good quality. Certain mowjahs were thoroughly vaccinated ; in others the work
was not exhaustive. The people are said to be apathetic and indifferent as regards
vaccination. Inoculation is almost entirely discontinued in the district. Dr. Russell trained
some ex-inoculators in the station, and gave them perwannahs and certificates, stating the
mowjahs where they were to work. They were required to submit weekly reports. The district
enjoyed an unusual immunity from small-pox during the past year, though there were sporadic
cases in the station bazar. The bazar people are sufficiently well informed to know that
they have the right (which they exercise) to boldly reject vaccination, while Act IV (B.C.)
1865, is in force to prevent inoculation. At the Burpettah branch dispensary four persons
were vaccinated by the native doctor in charge.
Nowgong
Nowgong district.—Mr. Hughes, civil medical officer, reports there is one permanent
vaccinator for the whole year, and an extra one was entertained from March 1874. Both
were paid by Government at the rate of Rs. 10 each per month. The permanent vaccinator
worked in the civil station and in villages within an area of six miles. The extra man was
sent to tea gardens. Three hundred and forty-eight persons are said to have been vaccinated,
of whom 244, or 70.11 per cent. were successful. The civil medical officer inspected on six
occasions, and found the work satisfactory.
Mussulmans and low caste Hindoos refuse to take vaccination, while the better classes
offer no objection. Inoculation is largely practised. No inoculator was trained during the
year. Small-pox prevails every year, especially among the Domes, who reject both inocula-
tion and vaccination.
Seebsaugor.
Seebsaugor district.—Dr. Ahmed officiated as civil surgeon during the past year. The
report is, however, submitted by Baboo Mohanund Mookerjee, civil medical officer. He states
that there is one permanent vaccinator on Rs. 10, who works from November to March. With
the sanction of Government, obtained in the middle of February, four extra men were
entertained from the latter end of February to 31st March. The vaccinators were employed
in the sudder and sub-divisional towns and their immediate vicinity, within an area of eight
or ten miles. Arm-to-arm vaccination was practised as far as possible. The civil authorities