2
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
Staff employed in Aasam.
4. In this table is entered the agency employed in each district and the
class of operators. The Civil Surgeons remain practically
the same from year to year. Dr. Cran, Civil Surgeon of
North Lakhimpur, did no work this year. Only one Assistant-Surgeon, Hari Charan Sen,
in medical charge of Nowgong, took any part in vaccination this season. At Dhubri
and at Tezpur the Assistant-Surgeons have been relieved of vaccination in accordance
with paragraph 19 of the Resolution of 1883-84. The number of Hospital-Assistants also
remain practically the same ; the slight increase from 25 to 28 being due to new dis-
pensaries in Sylhet and Nowgong. The latter district has had a native inspector
for the first time (Chief Commissioner's No. 6,593, dated the 14th October 1884).
I agree with Mr. McNaught's view that the title Native Superintendent is inappro-
priate. The Civil Surgeon is the Superintendent of Vaccination in his district. The
Government, or as I propose to term them, the Provincial vaccinators have been
reduced from 45 to 42. This is due to three vaccinators in Goálpára who were paid last
year by Government having been paid by the Local Fund in 1884-85 (Chief Commis-
sioner's No. 5,350, dated the 17th October 1883). One vaccinator, who was sanctioned
for six months, was not entertained, under a wrong impression (Civil Surgeon's No. 439,
dated the 7th June 1885.) An additional vaccinator for Mauphlang in the Khási Hills-
district was sanctioned (Chief Commissioner's No. 6,741, dated the 16th October 1884).
A native inspector was also sanctioned for Darrang (Chief Commissioner's No. 7,737,
dated the 22nd November 1884), but was not employed, as no competent man could be
got. I strongly urge on Dr. Campbell the suggestion given by Mr. McNaught to ask
for one from the Superintendent of Vaccination, Calcutta, in time for next season's opera-
tions. The Municipal vaccinators received an addition of one each at Habiganj and
Dibrugarh. The work of this class is unsatisfactory; neverthless, no municipality
should be without one. If vaccination be not encouraged under the eye of education and
authority, how can the ignorant and rude villagers accept it with confidence ? The most
satisfactory feature of the table is the increase of Local Fund vaccinators from 20 to 40.
Cachar, Sibságar, Darrang, Nowgong, Kámrúp, and Goálpára have all now followed the
lead of Sylhet, and are making laudable efforts to accustom the people to vaccination and
to depopularise inoculation. Hardly less satisfactory is the decrease of ex-inoculators
from 51 in 1883-84 to 27 in 1884-85. In the review of both Goálpára and Kámrúp the
services of these men are usefully sketched, and certain advantages claimed for their
continued employment. It will be observed that Surgeon Dobson objects altogether to the
term ex-inoculators, and would have them styled " licensed private vaccinators." In the
Calcutta and Darjeeling circles these men do all the district work, and are there styled
" licensed vaccinators." In Lakhimpur, however, the original term is shown to be still
appropriate. The essential condition of their employment has been fairly observed (Chiet
Commissioner's Resolution 1883-84, paragraph 10), and, so long as their numbers are with-
in reasonable control and their work adequately supervised, they may be encouraged..
I think the term "licensed vaccinator" is suitable, and recommend its adoption.
5. Taken as a whole, the table shows there were 170 vaccinators of all classes last
season, and 169 during the current season.
TABLE No. II.
Showing increase and decrease of vaccination work in each district during the past two years.
Districts.
Goálpára ..................
Kámrúp ....................
Nowgong ....................
Darrang ......................
Sibságar ......................
Lakhimpur ....................
Nága Hills ....................
Khási „ ........................
Gáro „ ..........................
Sylhar ..........................
Cachar ..........................
Tea-gardens by. garden,
agency.
Total ...... ...
Total number vaccinated.
1883-84.
14,477
8,788
2,983
5,194
3,606
5,398
473
1,861
7,263
23,241
5,073
10,336
88,693
1884-85.
16,691
9,872
10,879
9,012
4,971
6,629
1,228
3,659
8,688
18,896
4,757
8,449
103,731
Difference.
Increase.
2,214
1,084
7,896
3,818
1,365
1,231
755
1,798
1,425
....
....
....
21,586
Decrease.
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
4,345
316
1,887
6,548
Actual
Increase.
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
15,038
vaccination by districts.
6. In the above table the work- of each district and a comparison with last season
is detailed. In 1883-84 every district except Darrang
showed an increase, and the total, 88,693, was an advance of
53.4 per cent. on the operations of the previous year. In. 1884-85 three of the. districts.