REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
17
Excellent report.
107. Lakhimpur.— The report of vaccination in Lakhimpur is very complete, and
shows an intelligent appreciation of the value of real work,
and its importance in respect of overcoming prejudice.
Statistics of the season.
108. The Civil Surgeon is assisted by seven vaccinators (three paid by Local Funds)
and two Hospital-Assistants. Altogether, this staff comple-
ted 5,162 operations, of which 4,194 were successful. In
1882-83, the numbers were 3,035 and 2,299 respectively. Dr. Whitwell is personally
credited with 993 operations and 726 successes. The vaccinator averaged something
over 450 successes, and the Hospital-Assistants 182 each.
Low ratio of successful operations.
109. The total average ratio of successes among the above classes stood at 81.25;
the Civil Surgeon being lowest, with 73.9 only. There were
3,301 vaccinations inspected, and the average among these
found successful was also extremely low, viz., 77 per cent. I cannot find in the report
any explanation of this very low average; take, for example, Darrang, with an average
of 92.7 per cent. Both districts have young and zealous Civil Surgeons, who have
specially developed vaccination and kept a strict watch over their subordinates and the
inspections, and the lymph was obtained from nominally the same source. In this
district, there are also 236 re-vaccinations recorded with 158 successful results.
Results in tea-gardens.
110. The operations on tea-gardens are considerable 1,353 cases were performed
by Government employés, with 1,034 successes, and from
some gardens returns were obtained, showing in gross 488
operations and 354 successes. But in Lakhimpur, as elsewhere, the managers are very
irregular in submitting information on sanitary subjects.
Expenditure and average cost of each suc-
cessful operation
111. The high rate of wages (Rs. 15 a month) and the necessity for retaining
one vaccinator permanently exercise a material influence
on the average cost of each successful case. The expenses
of the year amounted to Rs. 615 for salaries, and Rs. 202 travelling allowances, bringing
the cost up to four annas one pie.
Extracts from the Annual Report
112. The Annual Report is forwarded through the
Deputy-Commissioner, who adds marginal comments of
value. The following are extracts :—
" The whole district was divided into small areas, consisting of tea-gardens and villages. To
each a vaccinator was sent with instructions not to return until every one who needed it had been
protected; and before quitting his area, I either inspected it or the managers and mauzadar counter-
signed the registers.
" Rái Sádhan Chandra Báhádur, Honorary Extra-Assistant-Commissioner, exercises great
influence over the Muttacks, a class in this district that has hitherto stood alone in objecting to
vaccination. It is hoped that next year the Muttacks will be brought round.
" Generally speaking, the people are indifferent, and do not come forward of their own accord to be
vaccinated. The Khámptis were the only class who seemed decidedly eager to have the operation
performed. On one occasion, when out vaccinating in one of their villages, a few miles from Dibrugarh,
nearly all the inhabitants turned out to meet me; men jostled and lead each other holding out their
arms in their eagerness; mothers thrust forward their children; while behind the crowd husbands might
be seen dragging forward reluctant wives."
The Deputy-Commissioner observes that this was a very exceptional case, and would
not have occurred to a native vaccinator, the people having huge confidence in the
medical and surgical skill of Europeans.
" Inoculation is very extensively practised, especially in the interior." (Deputy-Commissioner.)
Urgent reforms called for in the subor-
dinate staff.
113. Dr. Whitwell was obliged to take very vigorous measures of reform on arrival.
The old vaccinators were found wholly untrustworthy;
they were dismissed, and the registers cancelled. A new
class on improved pay was instructed. Hence vaccination was not really taken in hand until
the middle of December, and the augmented statistics of the season are consequently all
the more creditable. The Hospital-Assistants, too, worked well, and were reliable in their
returns.
Protection outside vaccination.
114. " Protection from small-pox amongst the inhabitants varies inversely to the
distance from head-quarters and district sub-divisions. The
tribes on the frontier, with the exception of a very small
minority who were vaccinated at Sadiya and Mákum, suffer terribly from the disease when
it appears." (Deputy-Commissioner.)
Vaccination introduced among Mishmis of
the north-east frontier.
" This is the first occasion, so far as I know, on which any of the hill tribes border-
ing on the district have been vaccinated. Lakho Rája, of the
Chulikata Mishmis, was first induced to be vaccinated; his