16
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
The gaonbura of Mozema vaccinated.
of Mozema, who was under arrest at Kohima, hearing that small-pox had broken out
in his village, came forward voluntarily, and was vaccinated;
but his example does not appear to have been of much use.
Protection by police is now withdrawn.
Lymph supply generally good.
96. Dr. Borah explains the serious decreas
the protection of the
Police having been
McCabe on political
grounds. Among these wild tribes any
stables on the scene means compulsion. There was no instance of
of.
The English lymph in tubes from the Sanitary Commissioner of Assam, and country
lymph from Bengal were both good; bovine lymph from
Calcutta has never proved a success.
Expenditure.
97. The total cost of the operations was Rs. 203, of which Rs. 190 was paid from
Provincial revenues, and the average cost of each successful
vaccination came to nine annas and ten pies.
KHÁSI AND JAINTIA HILLS.
Superintendence,
98. The annual report has been written by Surgeon J. Moran, M.D., who only
arrived in Shillong towards the close of the season. Except
within the station itself, the Civil Surgeon has very little to
do with the operations; he has been unable to make a tour of inspection for some years.
Working staff.
99. The working staff comprised one Civil Surgeon,
three Provincial vaccinators, three Hospital-Assistants, and
one Compounder (at Maophlang).
Results.
100. So far as the return is prepared, the results have been good. There was a
great alarm caused by an epidemic of small-pox in April
and May 1885, which had followed an invasion of Bengali
inoculators; and for some weeks the vaccinators had ample concessions and work. The
total number of vaccinations performed is 4,279, of which 39 were secondary. The
number of successful primary operations was 3,612, or 85.18 per.cent. As there is neither
insnecfcion nor any reliable check on the figures, little more need be said.
Inspection.
101. In Shillong station 117 were inspected, and 99, or 84.61 per cent., pronounced
good. At Maophlang the Revd. Dr. Griffiths inspected 91,
and his average of successes is only 71.42 per cent. The
proportion of operations assigned to the three Provincial vaccinators would be very good
if their work had been tested; but, being simply self-recorded, it is impossible to assign
any specific value to it.
Expenditure.
102. The expenditure continues very high, and must remain so while direct control
of the vaccinators is wanting. The monthly pay, Rs. 16,
is higher than elsewhere, but the travelling allowance
(Rs. 879) is growing into a monstrous abuse, and must be stopped. Each of these three
men succeeded in nearly tripling his pay by this means; and, notwithstanding the
exorbitant charges under this head were dwelt upon in last season's report, paragraph 118,
they have nearly doubled this season. " The expense is entirely borne by Provincial
revenues. Last season there was a grant of Rs. 150 by the Shillong Municipality, which
has now been withdrawn. The average cost of 3,551 successful operations has reached
the extravagant sum of 6 annas 1½ pies each.
Lymph stocks.
103. The supply of lymph obtained from the Sanitary Commissioner of Assam is
reported by Surgeon D. F. Barry, and Dr. Griffiths, by the
permanent vaccinator, and by the Hospital-Assistant to have
entirely failed in each instance of 10 tubes. This is very mysterious. The tubes were
drawn haphazard from 125; and those sent to plains stations seem to have been very good,
indeed, the Civil Surgeons describe them as having been the very best. It was English
lymph fresh from home, and why Shillong should have got the bad ten tubes cannot be
explained. Who had charge of them at Shillong, and where were they stored till wanted ?
There are no compulsory areas and no tea-garden operations in these hills.
GÁRO HILLS.
Superintendence.
104. Dr. P. M.Gupta, Civil Surgeon, has been in medical charge and Superinten-
dent throughout the season, and has prepared a very clear
and useful report.
Subordinates.
105. The working staff remained the same as before, viz., one Civil Surgeon, one
Hospital-Assistant, and six provincial Vaccinators. The
share taken by the two former is merely nominal, and I would
suggest that they should both devote one day a week during the season to station vaccina-
tion and inspection.