REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
13
Barpeta sub-division.
Work and statistics.
63. It will be convenient to review the work done at Barpeta first. Among the 13
operators there were only 1,430 successful cases. The Hospital-
Assistant did 121 altogether, of which 116 were successful; the
ex-inoculators 1,314, of which the Hospital-Assistant gravely reports" all" were successful.
With leisure and overlooking the people always, it would not be out of the way to run
110 consecutive cases to a good termination as an isolated case; but that twelve indivi-
duals working separately should all have avoided failure might have struck the mind of
a Hospital-Assistant as absurd, and ought not to have been passed by the Civil Surgeon
without reproof.
Obstructions.
64. In this township it seems the inhabitants are of two religious persuasions, one
of which permits vaccination and the other forbids it on
penalty of heavy fine. The Hospital-Assistant is of opinion
that inoculation is not so prevalent as formerly.
Ex-inoculators only employed.
65. The ex-inoculators obtain their lymph from Gauháti, and work free of cost to
Government. But cheap and spurious vaccination is not what
is contemplated by Government, and these men should
not be re-employed. On this subject the remarks of Dr. J. J. Clarke (paragraph 9)
of last Vaccination Report, and the observations of the Officiating Chief Commissioner
(paragraph 6) in his covering Resolution, on the necessity of closely inspecting
and supervising the work of ex-inoculators, have not received local attention.
Gauháti municipality and district statistics.
66. In respect of the sadr station of Gauháti the manner of work was fully
described in last year's Vaccination Report, and need not be
reproduced, as very little change has been introduced in the
year now being reviewed. At Gauháti the staff was in full number 32, which includes
23 unpaid ex-inoculators. The total number of primary cases registered was 7,283, of which
6,866 were successful. In detail the Civil Surgeon had 45 operations, 39 and 86.6 per cent.
successful; the Superintendent 81,72, and 88.8 per cent., two Hospital-Assistants 89, 82, and
92 per cent, one municipal vaccinator 143, 127, and 88.8 per cent., four Government paid
vaccinators 2,866, 2,663, and 92.9 per cent, and 23 ex-inoculators 4,059, 3,883, and 95.66
per cent. respectively. The Government paid vaccinators averaged 718, the ex-inocu-
lators 178, and the municipality man 147 operations. The first ought in a populous
district like Kámrúp to show at least 1,000 successful cases each in six months; the small
results shown by the municipal vaccinator were commented on last year. Dr. Mullane
is advised to recommend his being replaced by a more efficient subordinate next season.
Comparison with previous year.
67. The comparison with last year (5,677 and 4,513) is favourable, but the figures
even with the Government staff alone, ought to reach a
higher standard. The ratios of successful cases are all
high, and, 3,786 having been verified by inspection, may be supposed correct. In the
ensuing annual report the condition of protective marks of former years should be
noted. Dr. Mullane inspected a páthsálá at Chaigáon, 26 miles from Gauháti,
and found among 12 scholars, 5 protected by vaccination, 2 by inoculation, 2 by
small-pox, and 3 not protected, rather a singular uniformity in so small a number.
Expense of each case in town and district
contrasted.
68. The cost of each successful operation in Kámrúp was 1 anna 5 pies to Govern-
ment, and 15 annas I pie to the municipality, a contrast
which might be fittingly brought to notice where Act XIII.
of 1880 is supposed to be in force.
Source of lymph.
69. The supply of lymph was obtained solely from the Sanitary Commissioner
of Assam. The calf lymph failed entirely, but from the
humanised lymph 10 operations were performed; of these
three maturated and supplied, apparently, the whole of the subsequent vaccination.
Work in local tea-gardens.
70. There is a small return of vaccination from tea-gardens in this district. Out
of 19 only 13 had, up to date, sent in replies; of
the 13 replies 12 had no operations, and Amcheng, the
sole representative, 12 operations, 7 successful.
Annual report.
71. Nowgong.—The report and return of the vaccination in this district have been
written in a concise and complete form, and covered
by an intelligent practical review by the Deputy-
Commissioner, Mr. Driberg.