4
Annual Statements.
9. Besides the preceding table, the Annual Statements Nos. I to IV are appended to
the report.
Annual Statement No. I, explana-
tion of.
10. Annual Statement No. I shows the population according to the census of 1891
and particulars of vaccination in each district during the
year, excluding the operations done by the dispensary staff.
Annual Statement No. II, expla-
nation of.
11. The Annual statement No. II gives the cost of the department in a more con-
cise form, which has been explained in paragraph 3 of this
report.
Annual Statement No. III, expla-
nation of.
12. The Annual Statement No. III shows the number of operations performed at the
dispensaries by the dispensary staff. There were 10,466
operations performed by this class of operators, against 7,265
in 1889-90. Of that number, 10,406 were primary vaccinations, of which 9,010 were
successful, showing a percentage of 86.58 of successful cases, as compared with 7,223
primary vaccinations, with 6,743 successful and a percentage of 93.37, in the previous
year. In the Sylhet district the figures have risen from 5,845 to 7,485, or about
seven-tenths of the total vaccinations performed at the dispensaries of this Province. The
increase is also very marked in the Nága Hills district, the figures having risen from 15 to
947 in 1890-91.
Annual Statement No. IV, expla-
nation of.
13. The Annual Statement No. IV shows the number of primary vaccinations per-
formed in Assam for the past nine years, as compared with
the figures in 1890-91. The total number of operations
performed rose from 146,336 in 1889-90 to 177,356 in 1890-91, or an increase of 31,020
over the figures of the previous year, which is a great improvement. The work done
by Government vaccinators has increased from 44,929 to 62,471; by dispensary staff from
7,222 to 10,406; by Local Fund vaccinators from 62,005 to 68,757; and by tea garden
agency from 9,217 to 13,363. The work done by the licensed vaccinators decreased from
18,755 to 18,234. There is also a slight decrease in the work done by the municipal
vaccinators, as compared with the figures in the previous year.
Remarks on the advisability of extending IV Act (B.C.) of 1880 to certain selected
areas in the Surma Valley.
14. The extension of Act IV (B.C.) of 1880 to such areas in Assam as may be
selected by the Chief Commissioner for the purpose of prohibiting inoculation in them, and
has been approved by the Government of India, under certain restrictions, in paragraph -5
of Home Department (Sanitary) No. 1, dated the 2nd January 1891, to the Chief Com-
missioner of Assam, is, I think, most desirable for certain areas in the Surma Valley districts ;
but, previous to applying it to such selected areas, I am inquiring from the Civil Surgeons
of the Cachar and Sylhet districts as to the places where it can be safely applied,
especially with reference to the necessary condition of there- being sufficient means
of vaccination open to the public before the Act in question is made applicable to the
areas which may be so selected. As soon as this proviso has been complied with, I shall
propose certain areas to the Chief Commissioner for the enforcement of the Act in them,
and I hope that by this means inoculation, hitherto so common in certain subdivisions,
notably the Habiganj subdivision of the Sylhet district, may be discontinued.
Vaccination in Municipalities, Stations, and Unions.
15. In accordance with Government of India Home Department No. 746, dated
the 23rd April 1889, the following information as regards vaccination in muncipalities,
stations, and unions is here appended.
Sylhet Municipality.
16. Vaccination was carried on in this municipality under Act XIII of 1880
(the Vaccination Act). For the efficient management of the
vaccination work in this municipality, the Commissioners
framed certain rules under section 19 of the said Act, which have been sanctioned by the
Chief Commissioner. One vaccinator was engaged by the municipality, who performed
401 operations, of which 350 were successful. An allowance of Rs. 10 per mensem was
given to the Hospital Assistant in medical charge of the Rainagar dispensary for the
supervision of the town vaccination work. The expenditure under this head was
Rs. 180-7-8, and the average cost per head of successful vaccination was 8 annas and
6 pies.
Dhubri Municipality.
17. The Vaccination Act was only introduced at the close of the season. The
municipality did not contribute anything towards vaccina-
tion. The Hospital Assistant and the Inspector of Vaccina-
tion performed all the vaccinations done within the municipal limits. The total number
of births annually is so small that there seems no necessity for a special grant from the
municipality on this account. Forty-seven vaccinations were performed, against 65 in the
previous year ; of this number, 32 were successful.