REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
9
TABLE No. 7.
Name of
municipality or
cantonment.
Gauháti ............
Dibrugarh .........
Ditto Can-
tonment .........
Sylhet ............
Total ......
Population according to the
Census of 1881.
11,695
5,417
1,736
14,407
33,255
Number of children on the
register since the Act has
been in force.
...
875
...
...
875
Number of vaccinations.
1883-84.
Total number.
236
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
209
Not known.
17
...
253
...
...
209
1884-85.
Total number.
930
459
47
2,333*
3,769
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
751
418
43
...
1,212
1885-86.
Total number.
847
510
38
406
1,801
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
766
399
22
364
1,551
1886-87.
Total number.
692
445
...
350
1,487
Number success-
fully vaccinated.
571
252
...
340
1,163
Number
of
prosecutions
during 1886-87.
4
...
...
27
31
Number
of
punishments
during 1886-87.
4
...
...
15
19
Act came in
force.
August 1882.
September 1883.
Ditto.
1st October 1882.
* From 1st October 1882.
Compulsory vaccination.
21. The result of compulsory vaccination under Act V. of 1880 in the several
areas placed under the Act in Assam is detailed above.
Briefly stated, it appears among a population which num-
bered in 1881 33,255, but which is probably much greater now, there were 1,487 children
vaccinated, of whom 1,163, or 78.2 per cent., were successful. It would seem as though
the Act is practically a dead letter. Except at Dibrugarh, there are no registers kept,
nor any registrars appointed. In Gauháti there were only 4 prosecutions, and in Sylhet
27, of which 15 proceeded to conviction. As the Act has only been in force since 1882, it
would appear that many children over age are included. At all events, the table shows that
7,696 children have been vaccinated in the compulsory areas since its introduction, while
the registration of births in the same period shows 3,442 only
GOÁLPÁRA.
Staff.
22. This important district has been throughout the season under the superintendence
of Surgeon E. Dobson, M.B., who has had under his orders
1 Inspector, 5 Hospital-Assistants, 1 provincial and 3
local vaccinators, 1 compounder and 11 licensed vaccinators, total 23. This is an
increase of three individuals on the working staff of last year, but is more apparent than
real, as all the Hospital-Assistants have been included, although their work was nominal.
Results.
23. The results have not been commensurate with the records of past years. The
number of primary operations has fallen from 15,285 to
11,081, and the proportion of successes from 93.62 per cent.
to 91.57. Statement 1 of the district annual report shows the reduced figures are chiefly
due to the inadequate work done by all classes except the licensees. Dr. Dobson does
not fully explain how such general laziness has been allowed, except by a hint that the
population open to vaccination is being reduced; but this is improbable, except the
operators cling to their old beats, instead of searching new circles.
Inspections
24. Inspection was, however, very good; 3,927 was the total number tested by the
Civil Surgeon himself, of which 3,401 were licensees' opera-
tions and 526 by paid operators. The general average of
successes reported by Dr. Dobson was 90.91. In addition, 3,219 vaccinations were
verified by the Inspector, of which 2,289 were licensees' work and 930 only by paid vacci-
nators. The general average of successful operations in his case was 90.33. This is very
good, and reads fairly honest. It should be the aim of every Superintendent to have two-
thirds of the work done in his district inspected, and a general average of 90 per cent.
successful will be accepted as commendable.
No tea-gardens nor compulsory area
25. There are no tea-gardens. worked by immigrant protected labour, nor any
vaccination outside Government agency; neither is there
any compulsory area nor any prosecutions.
Acceptance of the operation by the people.
26. The attitude of the people towards the vaccinators is variable. About the foot of
the hills, and among the Gáros, there is often a real welcome
given, accompanied with feasting and mummery; elsewhere the
resistance is passive; and in many villages there exists a religious constraint which
prevents the parents from allowing vaccination at all.
D