REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
9
TABLE No. VII.
Name of municipality or canton-
ment.
Gauháti Munici-
pality.
Dibrugarh Muni-
cipality.
Dibrugarh Can-
tonment.
Sylhet
Munici-
pality.
Total .........
Population.
11,695
5,417
1,736
14,407
33,255
Number of children on the
register since the Act has been
in force.
...
619
...
...
619
Number of vaccinations.
1882-83.
Total number.
386
...
...
...
386
Number success-
fully vaccinated
336
...
...
...
336
1883-84
Total number.
236
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
209
Not known.
17
...
253
...
...
209
1884-85.
Total number.
930
459
47
2,333*
3,769
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
751
418
43
...
1,212
1885-86.
Total number.
847
510
38
406
1,801
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
766
399
22
364
1,551
Number of prosecutions during
1885-86.
4
...
...
27
31
Number of punishments during
1885-86
4
...
...
15
19
Act came in
force.
August
1882.
September
1883.
Ditto.
1st October
1882.
* From 1st October 1882.
30. The results of compulsory vaccination under Act V. of 1880 in the municipa-
lities of Sylhet, Gauháti, and Dibrugarh, and in cantonments at the latter station, is
illustrated above.
31. The population under the law is 33,255 (Census 1881); and of these 1,801
children were vaccinated during 1885-86, of which 1,551, or 86.11 per cent., were success-
ful. In both Gauháti and Dibrugarh the numbers are fairly good, and the protection
against small-pox seems, by the results of the last two years, to be improving. In Sylhet,
the proportion of operations is comparatively small, and the expense, 12 annas for each
success, is relatively very great. There were, however, 168 persons reported in this
area, of whom 27 were prosecuted and 15 convicted; so that possibly next season may
see better results. Apparently, no registers are kept at Gauháti and Sylhet; without
them, the provisions of the Act cannot be properly observed.
GOÁLPÁRA.
Working staff.
32. This important district, second only to Sylhet in the work done, has remained
throughout the season under the careful superintendence of Surgeon E. Dobson.
33. The staff comprised, in addition to one Civil Surgeon and two Hospital-Assist-
tants, one native inspector, one Provincial, one Municipal,
five Local Board, and nine licensed vaccinators, being the
same total (20) as last season.
Results
34. The results continue to be highly satisfactory; 15,285 primary vaccinations
were performed, of which 14,310, or 93.62 per cent., were
successful. There were also 67 secondary, with 64, or
95.52, successful. The licensed vaccinators, who are paid by results, furnish the
highest average, viz., 1,273 each. The Provincial vaccinator was also successful; but
many of those paid by Local Funds worked inadequately. The Civil Surgeon, the
Inspector, and two Hospital-Assistants aided in some degree.
Inspections.
35. The inspection was thorough; Dr. Dobson himself verified 3,703 cases, and
reported 91.70 successful, while the native inspector
proved 6,168, with 91.68 per cent. successful.
No tea-gardens nor compulsory area.
36. There are no tea-gardens in Goálpára, and no vaccination performed outside
Government agency; neither is there any compulsory area
nor any prosecutions.
Small-pox not prevalent.
37. During 1885 only 436 deaths from small-pox were reported throughout this
large and populous district. Of these deaths, 188 occurred
in Salmara and 181 at Fakiragram on the south bank. Both
stations have hitherto been remarkable as refusing vaccination, but during the past
season some progress has been made, and it will be interesting to note the result.
Attitude of the people.
38. Dr. Dobson describes the attitude and feeling of the natives as regards
vaccination to be generally that of passive resistance; but in
some places, such as the foot of the Gáro Hills and also in
the Eastern Duars, the people anxiously await the arrival of the vaccinator, pay
c