REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
15
to a limited extent trained before starting. Inspections were general; in only one instance
was the lymph found to be bad.
Working staff materially augmented.
73. The subordinates employed under the Civil Surgeon were largely added to.
Last year only six were employed; but in the present year
there were 12, inclusive of Hospital-Assistants. A native
inspector was sanctioned by the Chief Commissioner (No. 7,737, dated Shillong,
22nd November 1884), but he was not appointed. No other explanation can be given
(in Dr. Campbell's absence) by Assistant-Surgeon Umesh Chandra Ghosh, except that
probably the services of a competent man were not procurable.
Results.
74. The work of the season is a total of 8,986 vaccinations, of which 7,933,
or 88.28 per cent., are reported as successfal. There were
26 re-vaccinations, of which 4 were successful. The Civil
Surgeon himself performed 628 times, with a successful average of 90.44 per cent. Two
provincial vaccinators at Tezpur had an average of 906 cases, with 92.09 per cent., and
two at Mangaldai had 955 each and 86 85 per cent. successful. Three Local Fund
vaccinators at Tezpur had had an average of 724 and 90.16 per cent., and 3 at
Mangaldai 681 and 83.01 per cent. Hospital-Assistant Dwarika Nath Shome at Mangal-
dai had 390 cases and 91.28 successful. All these are good figures, and show what may
be done by zeal and good management.
Inspection defective.
75. The inspections, however, have been insufficient, and it must be repeated here,
as in last year's report, that without efficient inspection, the
figures and the genuine work are both doubtful. When only
one case in 9 has been verified, there is wide room for misplaced confidence.
Here, as elsewhere, the vaccination in tea-
gardens is not general.
76. On the important tea-gardens of this district very little work is being done.
Dr. Campbell mentions that all the children of immigrants
are vaccinated at Dhubri; but this has ceased since the
spring of 1884. The immigrant population on gardens for 1884 is 24,144, of whom
6,250 are classed as children. When therefore the number vaccinated in a year is only
300, there is a certainty that many hundreds are left unprotected. Dr. Campbell should
make a point of examining the arms of any children he may see when on a visit to
tea-gardens; in this way an accurate idea may be gained of the reality or otherwise of
the vaccination going on.
Method of communicating.
77. Apparently the vaccination in this district is carried from arm-to-arm and by
ivory and goose quill points. No mention is made of crusts,
but it is more than doubtful whether they are not here, as
elsewhere, largely used. It is to ascertain these details of genuine vaccination that more
thorough inspection is urgently needed.
Feelings of the people passive.
78. The feeling of the people is generally favourable; though Assistant-Surgeon
Umesh Chandra Ghose (who writes the annual report)
describes it in the Tezpur thána as "quiet submission."
At greater distances from the sadr station the people are averse to vaccination: "they
dread its immediate action, and do not believe in its future efficacy."
Inoculation practised secretly and in re-
mote villages.
79. Inoculation is said to be seldom used now, although nearly the whole adult
population carry the marks of it. On one occasion an
inoculator appears to have begun work, but to have been
threatened and stopped. The Doms and Miris have no objections to offer. Small-pox
was comparatively trifling all through the year, the maximum being 90 deaths for the
district in May. It is stated that no death from small-pox occurred in either Tezpur
or Mangaldai towns during the year.
Expenditure.
80. The cost of the establishment has been very small, viz., Rs. 360 to Govern-
ment and Rs. 348 to Local Funds. No travelling allowances
appear in the accounts. If the monthly rates of pay are
inclusive of travelling allowance, this should be stated in a foot-note to Statement V.
The vaccinators entertained at Mangaldai received only five and a half months' pay. The
total cost was Rs. 708, and the average of each successful operation 1 anna 7½ pies. The
inordinate cost of each operation in Mangaldai last year, viz., 6½ annas, was reduced to 1
anna 4½ pies in 1884-85.
Vaccination should be extended to Bishwa¬
nath.
81. I observe with regret that no effort has yet been
made to open up Bishwanath to vaccination.
Deputy-Commissioner's review.
82. The annual report is forwarded with a review by the Deputy-Commissioner,
who mentions Dr. Campbell's constant inspection duty.
But the district is too wide and the means of travel too
defective for the Civil Surgeon to fulfil inspection as it ought to be done. A good man