16
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
should be selected, on whose honesty and energy reliance can be placed; and he should
work the more distant areas, and, if possible, get men into Bishnath. A little influence
and tact are also required from the local authorities in gaining ground. The presence
of a vaccinator attached to the camp of the district officer in the cold season has many
advantages.
Conclusion.
83. On the whole, vaccination at Mangaldai has made material progress, and both
Dr. Campbell and the subordinates merit praise; but it
must be impressed on the staff of all ranks that the
benevolent objects of Government can never be satisfactorily attained unless the work
done is thoroughly protective against small-pox; neither can the prejudices of the
common people be really overcome except by their self-interest in the same direction.
SIBSÁGAR.
Annual report.
84. The Civil Surgeon, Mr. Atkins, has written the annual report, although he had had
only a short acquaintance with the district, having taken
over charge from Dr. Partridge on the 18th February. It is
unnecessarily diffuse, separate reports and tables having been prepared for the sub-
divisions at Jorhát and Golághát. The report and statements of the district should
comprise the sub-divisions also; only in Statements II. and V. is division into municipal,
town, sadr, or sub-division called for.
Inspection.
85. There is very little information in the report. Mr. Atkins, being new
to the Province, has much to learn. He went in March to
the vaccination ground, and inspected 184 cases—
" Of these, 70 per cent. bore one mark, only 20 per cent. bore two, and about 10 per cent. bore
4 marks. The vaccinators attribute this to the parents objecting to more than two (?) punctures.
I vaccinated 13 children, and in no case did the parents raise any objection to the number of
punctures."
This might possibly occur to a European doctor, and still the native vaccinator be
hindered; but the proportion given shows how little reliance can be placed on the
protective value of such vaccination as is yet performed, 70 per cent. of single pustules
only, and probably 60 among the 70 never allowed to mature.
Statistics of the year
86. The total vaccination of the season reached 4,915, which is the highest record
existing. In 1881-82 the number was 4,827, and in
1883-84 3,593. The number successful this year is given
as 4,446, being an average of 90.45 per cent. There were also 56 re-vaccinations, with
an average of 87.5 per cent. successful.
Working staff
87. There was a large but not very zealous staff of 15 employed. Two Civil
Surgeons, Drs. Partridge and Conceicao, operated only 16
times between them; 3 provincial vaccinators had an
average of 514; 2 municipal averaged 651 ; 4 Local Fund, 433; and 4 Hospital-Assistants
93.5 each. With such a number of assistants much more might be done with energy,
and it is to be hoped Mr. Atkins will emulate the success of vaccination in the neigh-
bouring district of Nowgong. In both, the civil medical officer may confidently rely
on the cordial support and assistance of the Deputy-Commissioner.
Tea-gardens.
88. Beside 186 cases and 147 successes, which were done on tea-gardens by
Government servants, the report furnishes a record of 2,348
vaccinations on 76 gardens by their private medical staff;
and of these 1,861, or 79.25 per cent., were considered successful. The population of
labourers, including women and children, in the Sibságar district is 64,313; and the total
births of 1884 is 1,995.
The inspection not reliable.
89. The inspections at Sibságar are not on a satisfactory footing. There is no
native inspector, and apparently the Hospital-Assistants
inspect the vaccinators, and possibly the vaccinators inspect
the Hospital-Assistants. Statement III. of the report shows that 3,996 cases out of a
total of 4,971 had been inspected, but subsequent explanation shows that of these only
403 were by the Civil Surgeon, and no less than 3,593 by the subordinate operators
themselves.
Expenditure.
90. The cost of the establishment in Sibságar, including the large and populous
sub-divisions of Jorhát and Golághát, was moderate,
amounting to Rs. 522, of which the Government share was
230; Local Funds contributed Rs. 176, and municipalities Rs. 100. The average cost
of each successful operation was a fraction over two annas.
Proposal to vaccinate among the Nágas.
91. The Deputy-Commissioner, Mr. J. D. Anderson, c.s., in forwarding a report,
suggests that the local missionaries at Molungting should
receive a supply of good lymph, and be encouraged to