Resolution on the Vaccination Report for 1892-93.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner of Assam in the General
Department, No. 6155G., dated the 26th June 1893,
Read—
The Annual Vaccination Report for 1892-93.
RESOLUTION.
This report was punctually submitted in manuscript on the 15th May 1893 and
was received in print on the 12th June 1893.
Progress of vaccination work.
2. As the present report is the full triennial one prescribed by paragraph 5 of the
Government of India (Home Department) Resolution
No. 28—1579-95, dated the 15th July 1887, comparative
figures for previous years are embodied in the statement which precedes paragraph 8.
If the results during the year under report are compared with those shown in the first
year of the triennial period (1890-91), an increase in the number of persons vaccinated
is apparent in the case of every district of the Province except Sibságar, with the general
result that the total number of persons vaccinated throughout the Province increased
from 187,110 in 1890-91 to 214,926 (omitting the statistics for the North Lushai Hills
and Manipur) in 1892-93. At the same time, the Chief Commissioner remarks that the
only districts in which progress was continuous during the triennial period are Cachar,
Nowgong, and the Gáro Hills. On the other hand, if the figures for the year under report
are compared with those of the previous year, very considerable progress is apparent in
Sylhet and Kámrúp, and to a less extent in Darrang and Nowgong, Cachar and the
Gáro Hills. The results in Goálpára, Sibságar, Lakhimpur, and the Khási and Jaintia
Hills, as compared with 1891-92, are retrograde, and cannot be regarded as satisfactory.
In connection with the falling off in the Nága Hills (from 14,275 to 7,110 operations),
it must be remembered that the figures for 1891-92 were altogether exceptional, being
due to a very extensive outbreak of small-pox, which caused the Nágas to seek for
vaccination. The Chief Commissioner notices with satisfaction the fact that a beginning
has been made with vaccination amongst the Lushais, 246 operations having been
performed in the North Lushai Hills during the year under report, and he is also glad
to notice the increase in operations which took place in Manipur (from 7,481 in the
previous year to 9,771), and also on tea gardens by garden agency (from 9,229 to 10,541);
but much clearly remains to be done in regard to vaccination on gardens, the results
being obviously inadequate. It is observed, however, from paragraph 12 of the report that
the action of the garden agency was supplemented to the extent of 4,406 operations by
Government vaccinators on gardens in the Cachar, Kámrúp, Darrang, and Lakhimpur
districts.
Inspection of vaccination.
3. The number of inspections performed during the year under review increased
from 101,197 in the previous year to 123,144, or by 21.68 per
cent. Of the 123,144 cases verified 110,882, or 90.4, were
found successful, as compared with 92,978, or 91.88 per cent, in the previous year.
It is satisfactory to notice that the number of inspections made by Civil Surgeons
advanced considerably, from 12,432 in 1891-92 to 18,074 during the year under report.
At the same time the figures given in Statement No. V appended to the report show
considerable variations between the percentages of inspections made by Civil Surgeons
to the total number vaccinated, the percentages in question ranging in the plains
districts between 25.49 in Goálpára and 1.15 in Sylhet. These variations suggest
differences of system, which call for enquiry, and the matter is commended to the
attention of the Principal Medical Officer and Sanitary Commissioner, who is also
requested to give in future reports the number (as well as the percentage) of vaccinations
which were inspected and found successful in each district and for the Province
generally (1) by Civil Surgeons and (2) by native superintendents or other inspecting