14
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
Details of the staff employed.
77. The subordinate staff numbered 13 only in 1884-85. Owing to the support
of the district officer, the Local Boards, and more ample
funds, no less than 26 operators took part in the vaccination
of 1885-86. These were distributed as follows: at Sibságar sadr station one Civil Medical
Officer, one Native Inspector, three Hospital-Assistants, one Provincial, one Municipal,
and five Local Board vaccinators; at Jorhát sub-division, one Assistant-Surgeon, one
Provincial, one Union, five Local Board vaccinators; at Golághát sub-division, one
Hospital-Assistant, one Provincial, one Union, and three Local Board vaccinators.
Results
78. The results are proportionate, and exceedingly satisfactory. Last year
Mr. Atkins was exhorted to emulate the success of the
neighbouring district of Nowgong, but he has excelled it to
a remarkable degree. The total of 1884-85 was 4,915, with a successful average of
90.45 per cent. In 1885-86 the numbers have increased to 12,994 operations, of which
12,859 were primary and 135 secondary. Of the primary vaccinations, 11,810, or 91.84
per cent., were successful, and of the secondary, 127, or 94.07 per cent., were successful.
The average number of operations, including all ranks, was 500; the Provincial vaccinators
heading the list with 796.
Inspection.
A native inspector of high merit ap-
pointed.
79. The inspection was also good, Mr. Atkins having verified in 1,236 cases,
Assistant-Surgeon Hari Charan Sen 150, and the native
inspector 4,321. The result of their joint supervision is a
reported success of nearly 90 per cent., which is fairly reliable. Mr. Atkins writes that
he was fortunate in getting an honest, intelligent, and thoroughly competent Assamese
as his inspector; and I can of my own knowledge confirm the
Civil Medical Officer's opinion. I took the opportunity
when at Sibságar in the end of November, to have a number of the children collected,
and nothing could be more satisfactory than the entire operation from first to last.
The parents brought their children to the roadside with no reluctance: the vaccine
pock in most cases was good, plentiful, and uninjured, and the lymph stored in capital
order. One can only regret that when so thoroughly experienced, knowledgeable, and
painstaking a medical officer is appointed, the inducements of service in the province are
inadequate to retain his services.
Feelings of the people
80. Mr. Atkins considers that the bulk of the people are not averse to, but rather
appreciate, vaccination. But probably the real fact is that
when work is well done it is appreciated, and when it is bad
it is rejected. No inoculation was heard of nor any epidemic traced to its practice. Mr.
Atkins had great difficulty in abolishing the habit of carrying about old crusts; he insisted
on arm-to-arm vaccination pure and simple; and, as an example, suspended one vaccinator
for disobedience of orders in this respect. He makes favourable mention, on the other
hand, of Hospital-Assistants Amanat Ali and Maniram Das for their energy in spreading
vaccination among the Miri villages about Disangmukh. There were only 135 recorded
deaths from small-pox in this district during 1885, being at the small ratio of 36 in
100,000 of the population.
"
Lymph supply.
81. The supply of lymph was, as usual, from the Sanitary Commissioners of Bengal,
the North-West Provinces, and Assam. The ten tubes of
English stock from the latter were " eminently successful."
The supply from Almora, Darjiling, and Calcutta was not always reliable. A small
portion was sent to the American Missionaries at Molungting in the Nága Hills, but the
result is not stated.
Tea-gardens.
82. The vaccination on the numerous tea-gardens of Sibságar is also unrecorded.
It was started on some twenty or thirty, but only four
gardens, returning 168 operations, gave in any results.
Expenses.
83. The cost of the establishment was Rs. 1,244, of which Rs. 382 was drawn from
Provincial revenues, Rs. 714 from Local, and Rs. 160 from
Municipal Funds. The average cost of each successful
vaccination was one anna and 9 ¼ pies only. This is also highly satisfactory.
Good services of Mr. Atkins.
84. Mr. Atkins has been transferred to a more congenial climate and station in
India, but the energy and ability which he manifested in
every branch of his department during his short stay at
Sibságar will long be remembered; and it is to be hoped the benefit to the people of all
classes in that district will be lasting. I have much pleasure in bringing his merits to the
notice of the Chief Commissioner of Assam.