REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
15
Provinces, to the post. He obtained supplies of excellent lymph privately from the
North-Western Provinces, and is able to report highly of the quality of the work performed.
Favourable results at Tezpur.
82. The results are very favourable. Dr. Campbell himself vaccinated 892 times,
with 848 successful results, being an average of 95 per cent.,
and the two dispensary vaccinators, who had been carefully
trained by him and supplied with lymph of an established quality, operated 2,507 times
and 2,383 successful, being an exactly similar average. The local vaccinator showed 861
and 772 successful, average 89.66. As Dr. Campbell inspected over 1,000 cases and with an
average success of 95 per cent. nearly, these statistics appear reliable, and are gratifying.
Results at Mangaldai.
83. In Mangaldai the vaccinators were not so energetic. The Hospital-Assistant
succeeded in 124 cases out of 135, and the two vaccinators
in 679 out of 787, being an average of 86.27. The results
are not good, and the excuse of the unwillingness of the people must be understood as
implying previous inefficient operations. The explanation here, and elsewhere, is that
without efficient superintendence bad vaccination is the cause of numerous complaints
from the people. The Civil Surgeon truly remarks that " inefficient work only
retards the advance of vaccination."
Inoculation not common in Darrang.
84. The report states that inoculation goes on in this district " to a very small
extent, or not at all;" and that in no instance has an out-
break of small-pox been traced to have originated in the
practice; but this is negative evidence only, and is not supported by the mortuary
statistics, for small-pox prevailed nearly everywhere, although it was never bad in and
about Tezpur " where most of the children had been successfully vaccinated."
Localities within and without operative
influence.
85. At present, protection has been chiefly given to Tezpur and its vicinity, the
work spreading outwards, and each village being thoroughly
searched; but both Bishnath and the eastern portions have
had little or no vaccination.
Sources of lymph supply.
86. Lymph was obtained from three sources, viz., from the Sanitary Commissioners
of Assam and the North-Western Provinces and four tubes of
calf lymph from Bengal. The two first were very good, but
the latter was here (and elsewhere) an entire failure.
Expenses of the year.
87. The cost of the establishment at Tezpur is not
great, viz., Rs. 386, and the average of each successful operation,
1 anna 11 pies, is also moderate. At Mangaldai the average cost is no less than 6 annas
6 pies.
Vaccination Act not anywhere in force
88. Vaccination is nowhere compulsory in Darrang.
In the opinion of the Civil Surgeon, no one would object to
its being made so.
Work on the tea-gardens
89. The report of work on the tea-gardens is unsatisfactory. Only 110 operations
are recorded from Tezpur, of which 103 were successful;
and all of them were performed by the Civil Surgeon him-
self. At Mangaldai 114 cases were done by the vaccinators.
Review by the Deputy-Commissioner.
90. Dr. Campbell's report is forwarded under a review by Mr. Williams, the Deputy-
Commissioner. He is of opinion that objections against
vaccination are gradually disappearing, especially among
the lower classes, and he entirely concurs in the Civil Surgeon's view that complaints are
chiefly due to inadequate protection. I doubt if the quality of the lymph has so much to
do with non-protection as is generally supposed. The greatest proportion of failure is
due to a healthy pustule never maturating thoroughly. I am convinced that if children
of one year were examined the following year, the inspecting officer, judging by the
cicatrices alone, would certainly reject a great proportion of them as unprotected.
Wide scope for spread of vaccination in
Darrang if staff is increased
91. In Darrang there is room for wide extension of vaccination: all the conditions
are favourable; the people are not unwilling; there is little
or no inoculation; the Civil Surgeon brings experience and
great energy to the task; the civil authorities do not withhold encouragement and expla-
nation from the people. If the Local Boards will aid by a larger grant for the ensuing
year, so that a Superintendent on Rs. 25 a month and four temporary vaccinators on Rs. 10
a month may be trained and sent, two to Bishnath and two to Sotiah, I feel sure the results
would be still more encouraging, not by increased numbers only, but chiefly because
under Dr. Campbell's energy and watchful care the vaccination would be both genuine
and ample for protection.