10
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
him the prescribed fee willingly, treat him with great respect, and feed him on the
fat of the land. But these favours are only shown to those operators who are
known to be successful, men of local origin and sympathies, who not only vaccinate
but smooth away prejudices of the mothers and calm their agitation by propitiatory
invocations. The licensed vaccinators in Goálpára have, in short, replaced the old
inoculators, and their success is- due quite as much to their personal influence and
familiarity with the villagers as it is to the superior virtue of vaccine over variola.
Inoculation dying out.
39. Inoculation appears to be gradually but surely dying out under systematic
and extended vaccination. No cases were reported, nor
were any outbreaks of small-pox originated by it. The
vaccinators take first possession of each district area and guard it jealously from
intrusion, since their livelihood depends on the results.
Other general subjects.
40. Of other general matters a brief summary may be given. Dr. Dobson still
maintains that the licensed vaccinators do the best work, and
are most economical; the Local Fund hands are difficult to
get and difficult to train. Even when set to work, they are often idle and sometimes
unmanageable. The lymph supply from the Sanitary Commissioners of Assam and Bengal
was, as a rule, good and sufficient. Both bovine and human lymph were successfully
used. "Arm-to-arm" vaccination is being more widely adopted every season.
Expenditure.
41. The cost of these extensive vaccinations has been less favourable than in the
season 1884-85. The total cost of paid agency has increased
from Rs. 600 to Rs. 633-14, while the number of successful
vaccinations performed by them has fallen from 5,783 to 3,405 and the average cost
risen from 1 anna 8 pies to 2 annas 11 pies. If the unpaid work is included, there is,
however, only a small increase, viz.. 8½ pies each, compared with 7 1/6 pies in 1884-85.
Licensed vaccinators show both the
best and cheapest work.
42. The real fact is that the licensed vaccinators are local residents who are
known, and have no difficulty in getting the people to yield;
whereas the Government vaccinators of all kinds are not well
known, and three-fourths of their time is taken up with arguing and waiting instead of
vaccinating. So long as the work of the former class can be thoroughly inspected, it should
manifestly be encouraged.
KÁMRÚP.
Superintendence.
43. Dr. J. Mullane, Civil Surgeon of Gauháti, is the Superintendent of Vaccination
for Kámrúp, and has been in charge during the current
season.
Working staff
Licensed vaccinators in Barpeta have been
added to in number without authority.
44. He had under his orders 1 native inspector, 4 Provincial, 1 Municipal, and
6 Local Fund vaccinators, 3 Hospital-Assistants, and 22
licensed vaccinators. This is an increase of 3 Local Fund
vaccinators, 1 Hospital-Assistant, and 4 licensed vaccinators on the establishment of
1884-85. In respect of the latter class of operators, Dr. Mullane explains that these four
men were licensed by the Local Board of Barpeta in place
of temporary vaccinators who were not available, and that
this was done without any reference to the authorities at Gauháti, and as a matter of fact
their work has never been inspected or their returns checked. This action on the part of
the Barpeta Local Board so entirely contravenes the orders of the Chief Commissioner,
conveyed in paragraph 10 of the Resolution on the Report of 1883-84, that it has been
specially referred for notice by the Local Government.
Results.
Licensed vaccinators still largely employed
in Kámrúp.
Pleas for their continuance.
45. The total of the operations in Kámrúp for the season just closed exhibits a
great increase on the figures of recent years, and much credit
is due to Dr. Mullane for the zeal and energy which he has
himself shown in vaccination, and which he has also succeeded in infusing into his numer-
ous subordinates. The number is 15,754, compared with 9,742 in 1884-85, and those
recorded as successful were 13,781, or 87.47 per cent., compared with 8,763, or 89.95 percent.
These statistics would be much more satisfactory if it were not for the large proportions
(8,027) credited to the licensed vaccinators who are still so
generally employed in Kámrúp. In Goálpára, where also this
class is popular, Dr. Dobson is careful to explain in his report that their work is as fully
supervised as that of the men who receive pay by the month and not by fees on successful
results. But no allusion to the quality of the vaccination performed by these men is to
be found in the Kámrúp report. All that Dr. Mullane urges in their favour is that the
licensed vaccinators, being old and well-known residents, are more successful in persuading
parents and children to undergo vaccination, and that they
are more constant and helpful in subsequent attendance on
the children. These are certainly valuable qualifications, but I am sure Dr. Mullane will