(5)
cases respectively, giving averages of 383 and 301 cases per man in each sub-division.
In Goálpára, the licensed vaccinators are no less carefully supervised than the regular
paid vaccinators, but there still seems to be a want of proper supervision in Kámrúp.
This is a point which should be pressed upon the Civil Surgeon's attention. During
1885-86, 4 new men in Barpeta were added by the local board, notwithstanding the
injunctions which have repeatedly been given against any addition to this class of vaccina-
tors in Kámrúp without the Sanitary Commissioner's consent. The attention of the
Deputy-Commissioner will be drawn to the remarks on this subject in paragraph 45 of
Dr. Eteson's report, and timely notice should be given of any future action of this
kind contemplated by a local board. The extremely poor work done by these four
Barpeta men is in itself the strongest proof that supervision ought to be stricter. There
are certain undeniable advantages in employing this class of operators, under proper
guarantees. Dr. Dobson in Goálpára finds them much more efficient than the local board
vaccinators, being at once keener for work (they are paid according to the number of
successful cases) and possessed of that local interest and influence in which the paid
hands are generally deficient. But all this is in a great measure the result of a strict and
regular system of supervision, such as must now be introduced into Kámrúp. It will
never do to depend for one-half the vaccination of the district upon men whose work is
never tested, and cannot be trusted. Next year's report should show the number of
licensed vaccinators' operations which have been tested by the Civil Surgeon and by
the Inspector. A larger individual average of work must be got out of these men, and
it may, perhaps, be worth considering whether a special inspector should not be entertained
to look after this army of licensed vaccinators, or ex-inoculators, as in this district they
better deserve to be called.
Supply of lymph.
11.
The Sanitary Commissioner procured 125 tubes of lymph from England, and
distributed them, at the rate of ten to a district, before the season
began. They generally proved very good. Lymph was
also indented for directly by Civil Surgeons from the depôts at Dacca, Calcutta, Darjiling, and
Almora, and turned out to be of variable quality. On the whole, the English lymph seems to
be decidedly superior. The only exceptions occurred in Cachar, where six of the ten tubes
were failures, and in Shillong, where, for some unexplained reason, all the ten proved
useless. This is particularly provoking, because vaccination in the Khási Hills, after a
long and seemingly hopeless struggle with the conservative prejudices of this very obstinate
hill people, has suddenly taken a great start within the last two years. The average
number of vaccinations among the Khásis used to be about 1,800 annually; in 1884-85
the number rose to 3,659, and in 1885-86 to 4,279. Two successive outbreaks of small-
pox in these two years have apparently frightened the Khásis out of their superstitions fof
the time being. Further progress may be hoped for; but the first condition is that vacci-
nation should be effectual, i.e., that the operators should have good lymph to work with.
Financial statistics.
12. The following table gives a comparative view of the cost of vaccination during each
of the past two years. The salaries of Civil Surgeons and of the
Sanitary Commissioner are not reckoned in these figures :—
Inspectors(Provincial)......
„ (Local Board)......
Provincial vaccinators........
Local Board „ ............
Municipal „ ...........
Total
1884-85.
Pay.
Rs.
734
125
3,583
2,309
831
7,582
Travelling
allowances.
Rs.
455
60
1,148
188
......
1,851
Total.
Rs.
1,189
185
4,731
2,497
831
9,433
1885-86.
Pay.
Rs.
1,129
150
3,674
4,457
781
10,191
Travelling
allowance.
Rs.
883
90
1,664
150
......
2,787
Total.
Rs.
2,012
240
5,338
4,607
781
12,978
The one local board inspector is the man employed at Dhubri. The cost of
vaccination per head of patients vaccinated in 1885-86 was 2 annas 1 pie for provincial
vaccinators, 1 anna 9 pie for local board vaccinators and nearly 3 annas for municipal
vaccinators. The high rate for provincial vaccinators. is due to the large sums drawn by
them as travelling allowance, especially in the Khási and Gáro Hills. Dr. Eteson has
promised to look into this. The average cost for all classes of vaccinators together was
2 annas 2 pie, against 1 anna 8 pie in 1884-85.
By order of the Chief Commissioner of Assam,
E. STACK,
Offg. Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
A. S. Press (General) No. 34—230—19-8-86.