12
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
Plan of operations.
55. The same plan as in 1884-85 was followed, and the help of influential
Muhammadans obtained to introduce vaccination among
the inhabitants of Puranigudam. The prohibition by
Gossains has not yet been withdrawn.
Working staff.
Results.
56. Last season there was a working staff of 14, and the total number of cases
reached 10,872. This season there were 17 operators, viz.,
Civil Surgeon, Inspector, 3 Provincial, 9 Local Fund,
and 3 Hospital-Assistants ; but the total is only 6,819 cases, of which 6,117, or a total
of 89.70 per cent., were successful. The average of the
Provincial vaccinators was 716, and of the Local Fund 398.
Inspection.
57. The inspection was very complete ; by the Civil Surgeon 1,513 operations
with 78.98 per cent. successful, and by the native inspec-
tor 3,146 and 88.23 successful. These figures are exclusive
of 778 vaccinations which were performed by the Civil Surgeon and native inspector
themselves. In an appendix will be found a memorandum of the duties required of an
inspector, which has been drawn up by Mr. McNaught with his usual tact and com-
pleteness. A very large proportion of the cases inspected had the full complement of
four marks or vesicles.
Explanation of decrease this year.
58. In explanation of the decreased number of vaccinations this season, Mr.
McNaught states that the children of those classes who are
willing have been to a large extent already operated on:
whereas no progress has been made in overcoming the prejudices of those who are
unwilling, or who are deterred by the fear of the Gossains.
Detail of the castes vaccinated.
59. The various castes of the vaccinated are given, viz., 10 Christians, 185
Muhammadans, 4.637 Hindus, 471 Doms, 805 Mikirs,
318 Kacharies, 393 Lalungs, total 6,819.
Careful training and supervision observed.
With marked success in results.
60. Very great pains was taken by the Civil Medical Officer to train the opera-
tors thoroughly to inspect the quality of the vaccine
pustules, to obtain and maintain pure and healthy lymph,
and to see there was no injury done during the maturation. It is believed, in conse-
quence, that vaccination in Nowgong is really genuine, and
Mr. McNaught has the satisfaction of reporting that for the
third year in succession not a single. case of small-pox has been seen in the town, nor
has any outbreak been reported from the district.
Protection observed among prisoners and
in schools.
61. There is no compulsory area in Nowgong. The amount of protection afforded
the adult population is shown by a random inspection of
60 prisoners. Among them 28 carried the scar of inocula-
tion only, 24 were marked with small-pox, seven had been vaccinated, and one was
wholly unprotected. Among students in the English school 115 were examined ; of
whom 41 had had small-pox, 31 inoculated, 27 vaccinated, and 16 unprotected. In the
Vernacular school 89 were examined; with the result that 24 had had small-pox, 16
were inoculated, 19 vaccinated, and 30 were unprotected. In the vital statistics for
1885 there were only 5 deaths from small-pox reported on tea-gardens and 10 in the district.
Lymph-supply.
62. The English lymph received from the Sanitary Commissioner of Assam was of
good quality, and successful in establishing an early and
reliable supply. The lymph, both bovine and human,
obtained from Dacca, Darjiling, and Almorah, varied in quality ; some was good, but
more failed.
Vaccination on tea-gardens.
63. The vaccination on tea-gardens is not at all so general as it ought to be. In
only half the gardens -of the district was any vaccination
done. The total number of operations was 301, with 253
successes.
Expenditure and average cost.
64. Out of a budget grant of Rs. 1,190, only Rs. 952 was expended during the
season. Owing to the decrease in the operations, the average
cost has risen from 1 anna 7 pies in 1884-85 to 2 annas
7 2/3 pies in 1885-86.
Review by the Deputy Commissioner.
65. The Civil Medical Officer's report is forwarded by the Deputy-Commissioner,
who remarks on the great benefit to the people from such
a continued absence of epidemic small-pox. Mr. Primrose
adds that Mr. McNaught has been most assiduous in his attention to the quality of the
work, and trusts this will go far to remove prejudices amongst the natives. I have
much satisfaction in adding my own testimony to the good work in Nowgong. I went