REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
15
LAKHIMPUR.
Superintendence.
85. The vaccination in this district has been under Dr. Whitwell's superintendence
throughout the season 1885-86. In North Lakhimpur the
operations were watched by Dr. Cran, who is in medical
charge of the sub-divisional station, and the local vaccinators received their first instruc-
tions from him.
Working plan.
86. The plan pursued was the same as in former years. After proof of capability
each vaccinator has a definite area assigned to his working,
receives periodical supplies of lymph, and reports progress
or difficulties, as the case may be.
Staff employed.
87. There were altogether 11 officers employed, viz., the Civil Surgeon, four Provin-
cial, four Local Fund, and one municipal vaccinator, and one
Hospital-Assistant. Dr. Whitwell himself, being engaged in
the study of Assamese to qualify for his permanent appointment, was obliged to leave
vaccination to the subordinates.
Results.
88. Nevertheless, the statistics are, on the whole, good. The total number of cases
was 8,005, all primary; and of these 6,567, or 82.03 per
cent., were reported successful. No one over six years of
age was vaccinated.
Inspection.
89. Inspection was nominal only; the Civil Surgeon examined 157, of which
he found 142, or 90.44 per cent., successful. He was too
much engaged on other duties, as explained in paragraph 18,
to devote his attention to this. But it is quite as necessary in Lakhimpur as elsewhere.
Native inspector should be appointed.
90. The Local Board should be pressed to increase the number of vaccinators by
at least three more, as the district area is so extensive; and
an application should be submitted for sanction to employ
a Native Inspector in terms of Chief Commissioner's Resolution, Vaccination Report
1883-84, paragraph 14.
Expenditure.
91. The cost of the establishment is moderate. From Provincial revenues Rs. 450
was paid in salaries, and Rs. 207 as travelling allowance;
Local Funds contributed Rs. 325 pay and Rs. 96 travelling
allowance, and the Dibrugarh municipality Rs. 90. The total was Rs. 1,170-5-6 and the
average cost of each successful operation within a fraction of 3 annas. Wages are high
in Lakhimpur. If a native inspector is obtained, the additional expense can only be
authorised on the promise of a larger working staff and a greatly increased outturn of
vaccination.
Tea-gardens
92. The returns from tea-gardens in this district are very incomplete. Among some
40,000 labourers and their families only 750 vaccinations
by Government agency were reported, of which 581 were
successful ; and 269, with 247 successful, were reported as due to garden medical officers.
General remarks.
93. There was no serious outbreak of small-pox anywhere. Inoculation is becoming
more discountenanced each year; many of the prejudices
against vaccination are being slowly removed, and work is
making real progress; the statistics of vaccination in the compulsory area has been noticed
elsewhere. The lymph supply received at the commencement of the season from the
Sanitary Commissioner of Assam, was alone successful; later supplies in tubes and crusts,
both human and bovine, forwarded periodically from Bengal were of variable quality.
NÁGA HILLS.
Decrease in the numbers in the Nága Hills.
The permanent provincial vaccinator an
expensive arrangement.
94. Vaccination in the Nága Hills is not making much progress. There
is one vaccinator paid from Provincial funds, who
received Rs. 15 a month all the year round, and also drew
Rs. 23 for travelling allowances and for an interpreter. He performed 8 operations,
of which 6 were successful, so that his average presents the unique figure of nearly
Rs. 34 for each success. He was ill from November to February; but it was pointed out
in the Vaccination Report of 1884-85, that he ought to be at work all the year in the hills.
Dr. Borah ought not to permit such continued uselessness
and extravagance. Besides the above individual, the Civil
Surgeon and the Hospital-Assistants at Wokha and Kohima took a small share in vacci-
nation : but the real working man seems to be Sewchurn, dresser of the Kohima dispensary.
Out of a total of 495 cases, he vaccinated 377, with 323, or 85.67 per cent., successful.
General remarks.
95. There is not much more that is worthy of record. Among the 495 vaccinated
were 17 Angámi, 377 Lhotas, and 101 other classes. Mr.
Greer, Deputy-Commissioner, relates the fact of the gaonbura