2
Deaths from small-pox.
The reported deaths from small-pox numbered 5,637 (.18 per 1,000). The rate
was highest in Kamrup (3.17), Darrang (1.32), and
Chittagong (.55). A diagram showing the death-rate
from small-pox and the proportion of the population protected by vaccination during
the last seven years is attached.
Many of the districts report isolated outbreaks of the disease, some of which
originated from cases imported from Calcutta.
Dispensary vaccination.
4. Vaccination is practised by Dispensary Officers throughout Assam; but is not in
general use in the Eastern Bengal districts. Chittagong,
Rangpur, and Noakhali are the exceptions, and operations
are also reported from the Medical School at Dacca. Excluding the above, the total
dispensary vaccinations in Assam were 26,542—an increase of 5,373 on those reported
last year.
Percentage of successful opera-
tions.
5. In the Vaccine Department the percentage of successful primary operations
was 98.34, and of re-vaccinations 71.58, and among the
Dispensary agents 97.84 primary and 74.64 re-vaccina-
tion. The lowest rates in the province are reported from
Manipur (89.01) and from Kamrup (90.63).
6.
Different Methods of Vaccination.
(1) With humanised vaccine.
(2) With manufactured vaccine (glycerine or lanoline).
(3) With calf vaccine.
(1) Of the total operations performed by the Vaccine Department, 737.057, or
nearly 51 per cent., were with humanised vaccine transmitted directly from arm-to-
arm. This method of vaccinating will be gradually discontinued as larger supplies of
manufactured vaccine become available. During the ensuing season it will not be
practised within compulsory areas.
(2) 409,658 operations (29 per cent.) were performed with manufactured vaccine.
The Bengal Government kindly allowed the supplies of lanoline vaccine to the
transferred districts to be continued from their Calcutta and Darjeeling Depôts, while
the Assam districts were supplied with glycerinated vaccine from the Shillong Depôt.
Arrangements are being made to supply the whole province next season with glyceri-
nated vaccine from the Shillong Depôt, equivalent to the quantity of lanoline
vaccine supplied by Bengal.
(3) Most of the Bengal districts supplement their supplies of manufactured
vaccine with vaccine obtained from locally vaccinated calves. 266,427 operations
(18 per cent.) were performed from this source. The successful percentage obtained
by these three methods is as follows :—
Primary Vaccination.
With humanised vaccine ... ... ... ...
„ manufactured vaccine ... ... ... ...
„ calf vaccine ... ... ... ...
97.99
96.02
98.76
Re-vaccination.
With humanised vaccine ... ... ... ...
„ manufactured vaccine ... ... ... ...
„ calf vaccine ... ... ... ...
78.35
65.67
63.74
Vaccination work in the districts.
7. Those districts which show a marked increase in the number of operations are
mentioned below in round numbers :—
Chittagong
Faridpur
Noakhali
Cachar
Dinajpur
Jalpaiguri
Rajshahi
Garo Hills
Mymensingh
Pabna
Rangpur
Darrang
Manipur
... ... ... ... ... + 53,000
... ... ... ... ... + 18,000
... ... ... ... ... + 11,000
... ... ... ... ...+ 6,000
... ... ... ... ... + 4,000
... ... ... ... ... + 3,000
... ... ... ... ... + 2,000