12
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
examine not only the current year's work, but also that of previous years, to see that the
scars show genuine and sufficient protection.
Work in the Immigration Depôt.
54.
There is a sectional report given of vaccination performed among immi-
grant coolies in the depôts. 671 operations were performed,
but as these persons are not usually detained over 48 hours
at Dhubri, the results are entirely unknown. It would be better to omit it en route;
it is hard that coolie mothers and their babies should have this distress added to the
discomforts of travel.
Legislative interference should not be dis-
cussed in the annual reports.
55. The Civil Surgeon presses the question of making vaccination compulsory;
and the Deputy-Commissioner replies opposing his
view. It is not advantageous to argue matters with such
a wide bearing in local reports.
Local opposition from bigotry, and its
explanation.
56. There was much opposition met with in the Goálpára sub-division attributed
to the influence of the Barpeta Shastras, and which I under-
stand has not yet been removed. It is possible, however,
that the prohibition did not originate with them. Mention is made in the report of small-
pox having been rife at Sálpara and attributed to vaccination; and perhaps the Barpeta
priests only issued their ban in response to a local appeal. Dr. Dobson, however, with
praiseworthy energy, enquired into this outbreak, and is satisfied that small-pox
appeared first, and that the vaccinators were summoned by the villagers to their relief.
Many who were thereupon vaccinated certainly took the disease, but this was the con-
sequence of earlier contagion.
The expenses and average cost of each
successful case.
57. The expenses of the establishment have been large, viz., Rs. 676; but the results
have been gratifying: the average cost of each successful
case performed by Government servants being a fraction
over one anna, and if the ex-inoculators' work be included, the average cost is reduced
to ten pies.
Inoculation supposed to be disappearing
in this district.
58. The Civil Surgeon is of opinion that inoculation is fast disappearing. Per-
sonally he has not seen a single case, nor any marks except
in the elders of a family. The vaccinators concur in this
view, although such a sanguine statement is likely to be exaggerated, and, indeed, it is
opposed to the opinion of the former Civil Surgeon given in the previous year; possibly
the practice is disappearing in thánas which are closely searched by vaccinators, and
is relegated to more outlying places. If this is so, vaccinators in accepting the
responsibility of removing one protection, must see that the other which is substituted
surpasses it in value; this can best be done by careful and genuine, rather than by nume-
rous operations.
Lymph supply.
59. The lymph was supplied by the Sanitary Commissioners of Assam and
Bengal, human and bovine, and in tubes and crusts. It
was good throughout. Once the vesicle is established, the
vaccinators kept up the supply without difficulty.
Means to which the success of the year
may be attributed.
60. I apprehend the excellent results of the year are due to the systematic
training which the vaccinators learnt under Dr. Dobson's
eye at the depôt in Dhubri, to the practical manner in
which the work was planned, and to the diligence with which their returns were
examined and the work inspected; the newly-appointed Superintendent of Vaccination
is to be congratulated on the results.
Much also due to interest and advice of the
district officer.
61. I would also tender my acknowledgments to Lieutenant-Colonel Michell, Depu-
ty-Commissioner, for his kindly interest in the work from
beginning to end, for the support accorded to the subordi-
nates in their labours, and especially for the intelligent review of the year's work which
covers Dr. Dobson's annual report.
Districts and staff.
62. Kámrúp.—There are two centres in this district, one on each side of the river,
from which operators work. In Gauháti, the sadr town,
the staff consists of the Civil Surgeon, the Superintendent
of Vaccination, four Government vaccinators, one municipal vaccinator, two Hospital-
Assistants, and twenty three ex-inoculators. In Barpeta, a sub-divisional township on
the right bank of the Brahmaputra, the vaccination was confined to twelve ex-inocula-
tors, the Hospital-Assistant of the dispensary acting as Superintendent.