4
both in the Barpeta subdivision and in the villages on the south bank of the
Brahmaputra. The Civil Surgeon in an interesting note draws attention to the
influence which this unvaccinated community exercises over the death-rate from
small-pox, and he shows that while in the thanas of Palasbari, Nalbari and Barpeta,
the death-rate varies between 4 and 5 per mille, in the neighbouring circles of Rangia
and Gauhati, where they are comparatively few in number, the ratio lies between 1
and 2 per mille.
In the Darrang, Nowgong, and Sibsagar districts, vaccination has been declining
during the last three years. This is probably in part due to the difficulty of obtaining
suitable inspecting officers, as those who belong to the Eastern Bengal districts are
not acquainted with the language and conditions of life in Assam. Natives of the
valley who possess suitable qualifications are not forthcoming, and the few who do
enlist require considerable training before their services are of much value.
The Civil Surgeons of these districts note that vaccination on tea-gardens is not
satisfactory, and state that a circular calling attention to the subject will be issued by
the Magistrate at the beginning of the next season.
Inoculation is still practised in Lakhimpur, one inoculator having been prosecuted
and fined.
Composition and strength of the
inspecting agency.
9. With a view to increasing the efficiency of the Department, the inspecting
staff of the Assam Province was amalgamated with that
of Eastern Bengal, and the whole was formed into a
graded provincial service. The strength of the cadre was
also increased by ten officers, so as to allow one Inspector for each district and one
Sub-Inspector for each circle in the plains, and one Sub-Inspector for each district
in the hills; also a reserve of four Sub-Inspectors to fill vacancies caused by leave
or sickness.
These changes were introduced with effect from the 1st April 1907.
The pay and grading of the staff remain the same as in Bengal, viz. :—
4 1st grade Inspectors ... ... ... ...
7 2nd „ ... ... ... ...
12 3rd „
„ ... ... ... ...
19 1st grade Sub-Inspectors ... ... ...
42 2nd „
„
...
...
...
...
Rs.
50
45
40
30
25
There is also a special Inspector for the Dacca Municipality and one for the
Manipur State, though neither of them are included in the regular staff. In some of
the larger districts, such as Mymensingh and Bakarganj, the area is too large for one
Inspector to efficiently supervise, and it is probable that an increase in the staff will
have to be made.
The standard of preliminary education required for admission to the Department
has been raised, and no candidate can now be admitted unless he has passed the
Entrance examination of the Calcutta University. Vaccinators may, however, be
promoted to the inspecting staff, provided they are under 25 years of age, and possess
a sufficient knowledge of the English language.
As soon as arrangements can be made, all inspecting officers will be required to
pass through a course of training in their departmental work. At the present time
the newly-enlisted Sub-Inspectors do not undergo any systematic teaching, and they
are only able to learn their work by such experience as they can acquire in their
district headquarters.
The work of the inspecting staff has also been laid down more definitely. Sub-
Inspectors are held personally responsible for the efficiency and control of all the
vaccinators working within their circles, and their promotion to the grade of Inspector
is dependent on the reports which are made on their work by the Civil Surgeon and
Deputy Sanitary Commissioner.
The Inspectors, on the other hand, are considered more as assistants to the
Civil Surgeon. They are required not only to report to him on the work of the Sub-
Inspectors, but to assist him in organising the district work and in pushing forward
vaccination in those places where it is not progressing satisfactorily, or where the
vaccinators meet with obstruction.
Verification of operations by in-
specting officers.
10. The vaccination work is inspected by the Deputy Sanitary Commissioner,
the Civil Surgeons, and the Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors
of vaccination. The Deputy Sanitary Commissioner
endeavours, during the season, to visit every district, and
to inspect a sample of each officer's work ; but it is impossible for him to carry out
this programme, owing to the vast extent of the country which he has to traverse, and
the mass of other work which he is called upon to perform.