REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
11
Lymph source.
32. The original supply of lymph was obtained from England through the Sanitary
Commissioner of Assam, and was found good in every
respect. Nearly 100 ivory points were charged from the
first cases developed in Gauháti, and thereafter the men took their departure to mapped
and named areas, armed with a magistrate's parwana of protection.
Attitude of the people.
33. Like many others in Assam, Dr. Mullane finds that opposition is frequently
due rather to the individual performer than to the rite itself.
This may be readily admitted. The villagers are, in fact,
too ignorant to know any difference in the latter: but an operator who has lived among
them for years, and can flatter or frighten as is required, exercises naturally a very material
influence. It is in this respect the ex-inoculators have succeeded for many years in
carrying on more than half the vaccination of the district at no expense to Government
at all.
Small-pox.
34. As elsewhere, small-pox was quite phenomenally rare in Kámrúp. The mor-
tality for 1886 reached the insignificant figure of 10 in
100,000. Inoculation is still widely practised, but no
epidemic due to that source was observed. The amount of protection enjoyed by the
inhabitants was estimated roughly by an examination of 293 prisoners. Among these,
176 had been inoculated, 59 vaccinated, 29 had gone through small-pox, and 29 were
unprotected.
Expenditure.
35. There remains only to give a brief note of the cost of vaccination in Kámrúp.
Rs. 1,454 were originally sanctioned for the season, and only
Rs. 1,189-12-3 was spent. I observe from a correspondence
that the Local Board have refused to grant any travelling allowance to the Inspector, on
the plea that he is paid all the year round. This is very bad economy. The Inspector
is an able man, and, unless he gets travelling allowance, it is pretty certain he will not
cover the ground as it is necessary he should do. Besides, it is not as though he were
idle in the hot weather. He is always at the Civil Surgeon's orders for epidemic out-
breaks. His travelling allowance, up to Rs. 15 a month, should certainly be allowed,
subject to the usual vouchers. The average price of each successful operation was 2
annas 11 pies.
NOWGONG.
Superintendence and staff.
36. The annual report is prepared by Mr. McNaught, Civil Medical Officer and
Superintendent of Vaccination, all through the season. It
is covered by an intelligent review by Mr. Knox Wight,
Deputy-Commissioner, whose interest in and support of sanitary progress is always
marked. Under Mr. McNaught there were one Inspector, 3 provincial and 8 local
vaccinators, and two Hospital-Assistants.
Results.
37. The total number of primary operations performed was 10,742, compared with
6,819 in the previous season. This considerable increase is
attributed to the help and support of the civil authorities,
which succeeded in removing the prejudices of particular classes hitherto in opposition, and
also to greater diligence and success on the part of the vaccinators, and to more careful
and frequent supervision.
Classes vaccinated.
38. A table is given, showing the exact number of each sect or class in Nowgong
who were vaccinated, viz., 13 Christians, 733 Muhammadans,
5,438 Hindus, 1,106 Domes, 2,248 Mikirs, 465 Kacharis,
705 Lalungs, 40 Gáros, not specified 27, total 10,775.
Inspections.
39. Out of the total number.vaccinated, 10,032, or 93.40 per cent., were successful as
primary; and 33 secondary operations were also perfomed,
with 31 succsses, or 93.93 per cent. 8,109 of the vaccinations
were also verified, viz., 2,568 by the Civil Medical Officer and 5,541 by the Inspector.
This is equal to 75.25 per cent., and is by far the largest proportion hitherto recorded.
There seems to be some mistake in the record of successes. In Statement II. it is shown
that, of the whole number vaccinated, viz., 10,742, 10,032, or 93.40 per cent., were success-
ful; whereas from Statement III. it appears that no less than 1,016 out of 8,109 were
found unsuccessful. This makes a serious reduction to 87.47 per cent. on the inspected and
more reliable cases.
Tea-gardens.
40. On the tea-gardens of this important district, with a population of 12,681, vaccina-
tion is not looked after as it ought to be. Only 311 cases were
performed, with 226 successful, or 72 per cent. On 25 gardens
it was reported that no vaccination was practised; others state that 95 to 100 per cent.
are already protected. From four gardens no answers were received. Of course, this is