REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
19
refused to yield to native operators. There were fifteen prosecutions under the Act:
four were dismissed and eleven fined in small sums. In cantonments there were 65
children on the register; of these 64 have been vaccinated. Nothing is known of any
prosecutions.
Annual Report.
107. The annual report for Lakhimpur has been prepared with intelligence and
care. The work of the season was prosecuted with energy;
and my acknowledgments are due to Dr. Whitwell. There
ought to be four more local vaccinators provided in the local budget; and a district
inspector appointed.
NÁGA HILLS.
Progress among the Nágas.
108. The spread of vaccination among the Nágas, Mikirs, and others of the hill
tribes has made a considerable advance during last season;
but the value of the work is not fully proved, owing to the
want of inspection. Surgeon Borah commenced the operations and trained the vaccinators;
but was then absent from December to February, while the work was mainly in progress.
He was on special tours with the Deputy-Commissioner through independent Nága villages.
Inspection.
109. Hence out of 1,228 cases reported, only 202 were inspected, and the average
of successes found to be 84.65 per cent. Among the 1,228
cases no less than 1,182, or 96.25, are said to have been
successful. This is another instance of the unreality of work by subordinates which is
not tested as to its purity and genuine character.
Expenditure.
110. The cost of the year was Rs. 377-6, of which Rs. 180 was paid by Govern-
ment, Rs. 91-6 from local subscriptions for an extra
temporary vaccinator for seven months, travelling allowances
Rs. 106, and small items for coolies, sweetmeats, &c. The average cost of all the
successful operations was 5 annas 1 pie; but if the work of the two specially-paid
vaccinators be alone counted, the average cost rises to Re. 1-1-3. There is one permanent
vaccinator on Rs. 15 a month, who is said to have worked for six months; but I think he
might with advantage be employed all the year round. There must be many villages in
the Nága Hills where climate, at all events, would not prevent this.
Tribes who were vaccinated.
111. Vaccination appears confined so far to Kohima and Wokha. Of those who
accepted it, 80 were Angámi and 382 Llota Nágas, 728
were Mikirs, and 38 other classes. Dr. Borah states the
Angámis are averse; the Lhotas indifferent; and the Mikirs are somewhat willing.
Inoculation is unknown among these tribes; and the only means of protection when
attacked with small-pox is to leave the village and encamp around it till the epidemic
has subsided.
Conclusion.
112. Dr. Borah's attention is specially invited to the remarks made in paragraph 50
of the Annual Report on Vaccination for 1883-84, The use
of old crusts to start the work is full of danger; and any
statistics of uninspected operations which give more than 85 per cent. of successes should
be viewed with suspicion. Vaccination which is merely a statistical success is not any
benefit to the people. Inspection is absolutely essential, and selected fresh lymph from
arm to arm must be used as often as possible.
KHÁSI AND JAINTIA HILLS.
Incidents of the year.
113. The past season has been an eventful one in this district. It began by the
Bengal inoculators visiting the Khási villages and extending
their work. When this was heard, a notice was sent
prohibiting inoculation; but, in reply, the Seim of Nongkreem presented a petition
to the Deputy-Commissioner to the effect that he anticipated disturbance of the peace
if the prohibition was insisted on. The Deputy-Commissioner ruled that the prohibition
must be withdrawn as illegal outside municipal limits. In Darrang, however, where
there is no municipality, the annual report states that under similar circumstances the
prohibition was effectual. The result of permitting these Bengalis to continue their
custom has been a widespread and desolating epidemic of small-pox, which is only now
(June 1885) disappearing; and to a certain extent the epidemic has led to a change in
the feeling of the people. They have realised the danger of inoculation, and vaccination
has been much more freely accepted.
Statistics.
114. The total number of primary operations in 1883-84 was 1,861 and this was noted
as a very successful year. In 1884-85 the total is 3,545,
of which 3,026, or 85.35 per cent., are reported to have been
good. There was, however, no inspection by the Civil Surgeon, and the figures are
those of the native vaccinators only. There were 114 re-vaccinations, of which 107, or
93.85 per cent., are said to have succeeded.