10
ANNUAL VACCINATION REPORT
Both the Deputy-Commissioner and Civil Surgeon speak very highly of the hearty
co-operation in the work of vaccination given during the season by Mr. H. Bell, Manager,
Lower Assam Tea Company, not only as regards the tea-garden population, but also
by extending vaccination to neighbouring villages. The work was entirely done by the
Native Doctor of the tea-garden, who successfully vaccinated 165 cases. This hearty
co-operation of Mr. Bell's in the work of vaccination is a worthy example, and might
with great advantage be followed by every tea-garden manager in Assam. Messrs.
Gilman Bros., Sonapur, also gave marked and careful attention to the vaccination of their
tea-garden coolies.
NOWGONG.
20. Nowgong District.—Three dispensary vaccinators and one ex-inoculator were
employed in this district during the season.
The Civil Medical Officer performed 323 vaccinations and 265 were successful; the
Hospital-Assistant 61, and of these 50 were successful; the three dispensary vaccinators
1,180, and of these 963 were successful. This shows, omitting the work of the ex-inocu-
lator (35 cases), which was trifling, a total of 1,564 vaccinations, with 1,278 successful
cases, against 234 vaccinations, with 131 successful, of the previous season. This is a most
marked improvement, and even greater success will, I hope, meet the efforts of Mr. Hughes
next year.
The vaccinators worked chiefly over a given area, within eight or ten miles of the
station; one accompanied the Deputy-Commissioner on his tour and did good work in the
Mikir Hills. This is an excellent plan, and I feel assured that good work might be done and
great and influential aid given to the cause of vaccination, if it were more widely adopted.
In my report, paragraph 14, of last year, I pointed out the good work Mr. Greer, of Jorhát,
had done by working in this way. Very little practical knowledge will soon teach any
ordinary observer who takes an interest in vaccination good vesicles from bad, and the
work itself would, under the auspices of the Deputy-Commissioner, in a few seasons take a
far higher status than it has ever reached in this Province.
Mr. Hughes inspected the work of the vaccinators and Hospital- Assistants from 2 to
55 miles, numbering 1,058 vaccination inspections, besides his own work, which he
inspected on 27 occasions.
Lymph was chiefly obtained from the Sanitary Commissioner of the North -Western
Provinces and Oudh (Second Circle). It was good, and the small weekly supply he sent
him allowed the work of vaccination, though not begun until late, owing to the bad
conduct of two vaccinators, who were dismissed, to be carried on without interruption when
once in full swing.
Inoculation is largely practised in this district, and small-pox epidemics are persist-
ent and severe, and they are frequently directly traceable to and follow the work of the
inoculators. Very severe outbreaks of small-pox are a common occurrence on this district,
and during the year 1881 the total deaths stand recorded 549 and the death-rate at 1.77
per mille of population.
TEZPUR.
21. Darrang District.—Four vaccinators were at work in this district during the
season.
The Civil Surgeon performed 263 primary operations, of which 238 were successful,
34 re-vaccinations, 34 successful; two Hospital-Assistants 512 primary with 470 successful,
and 42 re-vaccinations, 38 successful; and the four vaccinators 1,857 primary, with a success
of 1,696, and 161 re-vaccinations, with 138 of success. The total of primary vaccinations
2,632, of which 2,404 were successful; re-vaccinations 237, of which 210 were successful.
The work at and within four and six miles of Tezpur and Mangaldai was performed
chiefly by the Civil Surgeon and the two Hospital-Assistants. Vaccination commenced
late, caused by (a) the failure of the lymph, (b) the delay arising in training two new
men. One vaccinator working in the district was beaten by an inoculator, and returned
to Tezpur; another, on account of misconduct, was discharged.
The Civil Surgeon inspected 325 vaccinations in the Tezpur vicinity, of which 316
were, successful, and 368 of which 355 were successful in the sub-division of Mangaldai,—
thus making a total of 693 inspections.
The population of this district offers but little objection to vaccination: even the
"Domes," usually the most obstinate, will on suasion give way, and the Civil Surgeon
himself vaccinated all the unprotected children, 94 in number, in two large "Dome"
villages near Mangaldai.
Inoculation is not largely practised: but Dr. Warburton reports that he found two
inoculators at work, and to the effects of it he attributes two very severe outbreaks of
small-pox, which followed in their wake.