16
Although the lymph continued to give unsatisfactory results much longer in some districts than
in others, yet we find that it continued to be distributed broadcast to the vaccinators as soon as it
arrived without its being first tested by the Civil Surgeon of the district.
If lymph will not keep a week, it cannot be prudent to use it at all, and there was nothing easier
than arranging to test it, so long as there was reason for being suspicious about its quality before
distributing it, to be used on hundreds of persons. Thus I find one Civil Surgeon writing—" the constant
want of success with the lymph supplied, has caused considerable dissatisfaction amongst the people
all over the district, and the vaccinators have become quite disheartened from being constantly
reproached by the people and accused of incompetence, and even threatened." This letter refers to
the fifth supply of lymph received by this officer, and yet we find him distributing his sixth supply
and reporting thus on it—" 325 operations were performed, and failed in every instance." Was this
prudent ? It was consequent on such reports that I suggested to the Principal Medical Officer the
issuing of the following circular from his office : " Twelve children were vaccinated in my presence
at the Shillong Vaccine Dep6t, and on the 25th idem nine were verified by me as successful. I there-
fore request that you will, on receipt of vaccine lymph now supplied by the Shillong depôt, see that it
is tested on two or three cases before trying it on larger numbers. The vesicles I have inspected were
perfect, and I hope the supplies now furnished will be successful." Strange to say no unfavourable
reports were received after the issue of this circular. The lymph from this time to the very close of
the season gave excellent results everywhere. Dr. Griffiths, of Cherra Punji, informs me that the
lymph in his hands gave excellent results, and that he had 34 successful cases in 35 persons. Vaccinat-
ors, especially those with a fixed monthly salary, have to be closely supervised, especially when the
lymph is reputed of doubtful quality, for they are liable to go on giving the lymph a bad name
so as to excuse their own laziness.
Goat vaccination.
14. It may be of interest to record that seven goats were vaccinated. In every instance the
operation was performed as it is on the calves at this depôt by scarifica-
tion, and not by punctures. In only one case was the operation a
failure. Considering the fact that the bovine lymph raised at this depôt is preserved in glycerine, the
results obtained excellent and the quantity obtained from each calf so very much more than it is from
a goat. I fail to see any advantage to be obtained from substituting the calf by the goat for
purposes of vaccination, more especially as I am not aware of any caste prejudices existing in Assam
against lymph obtained from the calf. An additional disadvantage against the goat, to my mind, is
its almost continuous bleating all the time it is tied down on the operating table, which is most
distressing to listen to. The details of the seven operations were as follows :
Goat No. 1—was vaccinated successfully with humanised and bovine lymph, and a child was
vaccinated with the lymph collected, but failed.
Goat No. 2.—was vaccinated with humanised lymph only, and two children were vaccinated
with the lymph collected ;in both children the vesicles were imperfect.
Goat No. 3—was vaccinated with bovine lymph only, and two children were vaccinated with
the lymph collected, but failed.
Goat No. 4—was vaccinated with lymph obtained from goats Nos. 2 and 3, but the goat died on
the fifth morning from violent convulsions which came on suddenly two hours before the time the
lymph was to have been taken. The vesicles were perfect.
Goat No. 5—was vaccinated with humanised lymph, but failed.
Goat No. 6—was vaccinated with humanised lymph, and four children were vaccinated with
the lymph collected, but all failed.
Goat No. 7—was vaccinated with lymph obtained from goat No. 6, and three children were
vaccinated with the lymph collected ; all three failed.
Subordinate staff.
15. Hospital Assistant Chandra Nath Chanda worked exceptionally well under the very trying
circumstances he was placed in, consequent on the very unfavourable
reports received in the early part of the season. His energy and
zeal 1 cannot overrate, and to his close supervision, I am pleased to say, the working expenses of the
depôt have been reduced in accordance with the views put forward by myself on this subject.
SHILLONG :
The 29th March 1894.
E. F. H. DOBSON, M.B.,
Surgeon-Major, I.M.S,
Civil Surgeon, Shillong.