REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
21
No small-pox in Tura.
123. The report states that no deaths from small-pox were reported in the district in
1884 ; but this refers probably to Tura station itself, which
is the only place where vital statistics are collected.
District staff.
124. There were six provincial vaccinators, and they averaged 1,436 operations each,
This is the best on record up to date. There were only 5
cases of re-vaccination. The Hospital-Assistant at the
dispensary and the Civil Surgeon had very few cases. It is their particular duty to see
that all the children in Tura itself are adequately protected.
Expenditure.
125. The cost of the establishment is paid entirely by Government, and amounted
to Rs. 460-5-2 in salaries and Rs. 373-8-3 in travelling
allowances. The average cost of each successful operation
was 1 anna 7 pies. This is a great contrast to the Khási Hills district operations.
Review by the Deputy-Commissioner.
126. The annual report is forwarded by Captain. Maxwell with a concise and
valuable review of the work. He states that all the credit
of the past season's success is due to Mr. McNaught, and
with this I fully agree. In this district the success is not one of figures only; but,
as appears from superior inspection, to be genuine and of real protective value, and I
cordially recommend Mr. McNaught's exertions to favourable notice.
SYLHET.
The results of 1884-85 less satisfactory than
those of 1883-84.
127. The annual report on vaccination in this large and important district
is a great contrast to the flourishing propects and success of
the season 1883-84. It may be remembered that the Sanitary
Commissioner wrote of the latter as " everything that could be desired," and made
copious extracts from it; and the Chief Commissioner's Resolution (paragraph 19)
considered "the development of vaccination in Sylhet reflects high credit upon Dr.
Macnamara and the district officers."
Annual report is uninteresting.
128. For the current season Dr. Macnamara's report is short and perfunctory, and,
instead of the careful and lengthy covering review which
was acknowledged with such pleasure last year, the Deputy-
Commissioner has forwarded this annual report practically without comment. The
inference presents itself that the Civil Surgeon is discouraged by the retrogression which
has taken place, and more especially by the necessity forced on him of beginning the
work every year with new hands. His opening sentence explains this :—" As the enter-
tainment of our vaccinators on half-pay during the non-working season was not
sanctioned, I had much difficulty in getting men to begin work this year, and was
obliged to take and teach afresh men who had never seen a lancet in their lives." The
Resolution of 1883-84, paragraph 13, rules that " the difference in expenditure between
permanent and temporary pay must be considered;" there is no use therefore in further
representation ; the time when increased funds are available must be awaited patiently.
In the meantime, the work must have its efficiency maintained, even if increased numbers
are lost. Dr. Macnamara's reasonable anticipation that not only increased work but
genuine vaccination suffers by untrained hands every year commands sympathy, but it
certainly has been guarded against in other districts. The following extract states the
case from the Civil Surgeon's point of view:—
"What I wish is that vaccinators should be kept on during the non-working season (on half pay?)
the present number being reduced if necessary; and I guarantee that each man so retained shall turn
out 1,000 cases costing, exclusive of inspection, something under 1½ annas each case. This yearly
dismissal of operators has been strongly represented over and over again, and the fact that the matter
seems reasonable makes it all the more disheartening that it should be set aside."
Method of working.
Supply of lymph;
129. The operations were commenced on the 15th October, and the supply of
lymph both from England and Bengal is reported to have
been generally good. Dr. Macnamara does not seem per-
sonally to have kept watch over the initial tubes, but states that he received no
complaints.
and working staff
130. The working staff in Sylhet, excluding ex-inoculators, is more than double
that of Goálpára, and nearly three times larger than any
other district. It numbered 36 in 1884-85, and varied
very little in composition from the table given in paragraph 118 of the Report for
1883-84. One ex-inoculator is still employed, but his work was very trifling, at least
only 38 cases are tabulated as the result.
G