14
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
Results.
58. Vaccination has not advanced on the figures of 1885-86. The total number of
primary operations has decreased from 8,005 to 6,210. Of
the latter figure, 5,183, or 83.46 per cent., were reported
successful. As, however, only about one in eleven was verified, such successes are proble-
matical.
North Lakhimpur.
59. Included in the return for Dibrugarh is the vaccination at the sub-divisional
head-quarters of North Lakhimpur. Here Dr. Cran, who
has medical charge, superintends, and has three vaccinators
under him. This is not sufficient. There ought to be four at least at North Lakhimpur,
and the staff at Dibrugarh might be materially increased. The number of successful
vaccinations should not be less than 10,000.
General remarks.
60. Dr. Whitwell is alone in reporting that the English lymph was unsuccessful,
except in one instance. All the other reports are uniformly
good. The town of Dibrugarh is a compulsory area; but, as
noted elsewhere, the working of the Act is not very vigorous. Only 252 successful
operations were performed, and "no one was punished for resisting."
Expenditure.
61. Rs. 1,084 was the total budget grant, and Rs. 1,011-7-6 the actual expenditure.
Of this sum, Rs. 252 was admitted as travelling allowance.
In the adjoining district of Sibságar the vaccinators get no
travelling allowance, and I cannot help thinking it is quite unnecessary. The money so
saved could be put to much better purpose in paying an Inspector. The best system is
to have local, resident, well-known vaccinators, thoroughly protecting each a given area, and
travelling Inspectors, who see that the work is being properly done and reported to the
Civil Surgeon, The average cost of each successful vaccination has always been high in
Lakhimpur. In 1886-87 it was 3 annas 4 pies, a very remarkable contrast to the propor-
tion in Sibságar.
NÁGA HILLS.
Summary.
62. Vaccination in the Nága Hills, with Kohima as its head-quarters, has not made
very great progress since it was first attempted in 1881.
During the past season the Provincial vaccinator has im-
proved on his record of last year, and obtained 410 patients, in whom 343, or 83.66 per
cent., proved successful. The Hospital-Assistant added 85 and 63 successful, and the
dresser at Wokha obtained 648 with 561, or 86.57, per cent., successful. But it does
not seem clear how any work is done at all, for Dr. Basu, the Officiating Civil Medical
Officer, states that he could not get any one to undergo it except with the aid of a guard
and "authority." The dresser was stationed at Wokha, and the vaccinator at Lozema, and
both worked to the end of the season. Rs. 330 was the total of the sanctioned grant, and
Rs. 307 was expended. The average cost of each successful operation by the vaccinator
was 14 annas 4 pies.
KHÁSI AND JAINTIA HILLS.
Superintendence and staff.
63. There is practically no superintendence of vaccination, as the Civil Surgeon of
Shillong never visits the district, and the village work is
not inspected. There are two provincial and one municipal
vaccinator, and assistance is also given by the Dispensary Hospital-Assistant at Shillong.
Summary of results.
64. The two vaccinators worked well, having an average of 1,185 operations each,
with 87.55 per cent. of successes. The municipal vaccinator
succeeded 332 times, or 89 per cent. of his 373 cases
Altogether, 3,209 cases were operated, viz., 3,014 primary, with 2,636, or 87.45 successful.
and 195 re-vaccinations, of which 130, or 66.66 per cent., were successful. There is a distinct
falling off in numbers here, compared with the seasons both 1884-85 and 1885-86, but
Dr. Moran explains that the staff was not fully employed, and one vaccinator turned out
irregular work.
Feeling of the people.
65. Very little is really known about the vaccination in these hills; information is
entirely secondhand. It is said that most of the work is
done in the eastern side, and that many villages are entirely
protected. I am inclined to doubt it. Inoculation is distinctly practised, and last year
a Seim reported that the public peace would be endangered if it was prohibited. The
mortality from small-pox was considerable, in comparison with other districts; 61 deaths
having taken place, chiefly in the three groups of villages round Nongkhlow, Mariau,
and Soheeang, but even at the time the people refused to accept vaccination.