REPORT ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM.
9
Expenditure.
28. The last table on the list details very minutely the total cost of the Pro-
vincial vaccination establishment during the season.
The cost to Government has been Rs. 5,512, to Local Funds
Rs. 1,220, and to municipalities Rs. 482, total Rs. 7,214. In respect of the first item
it was remarked by the Officiating Chief Commissioner in his review of last year's
report (page 3) that—
" It is quite useless either the Local Government or Local Committees sanctioning money for
vaccination work if the district Civil Surgeons cannot make use of it. As already shown, the actual
expenditure last year on Government vaccinators and Superintendents was considerably less than the
sanctioned allotment."
Increased charges of the current season.
Average cost of each successful vaccination.
As the same thing appears to have recurred for the present season, the total
pay sanctioned by Government being Rs. 4,689, and the amount drawn Rs. 4,139,
it is likely the explanation is due to Civil Surgeons not finding temporary vaccinators
to their hand on the opening day of the season, and so pay simply lapses. The
total charges show a considerable increase on the expenditure of last year, viz., Rs. 7,214,
over Rs. 4,048. The principal item of this increase being
travelling allowances Rs. 1,373, instead of Rs. 243; pay of
establishments from Government Rs. 4,139, instead of Rs. 3,067; and pay by Local
Funds Rs. 1,220, instead of Rs. 390. There is a small increase by municipalities
from Rs. 348 to Rs. 482. The average cost of each successful operation, including
re-vaccinations as reckoned last year, is therefore As. 1-6. Last year it was given
as As. 1-3. But this is certainly an incorrect way to
count the cost, for it includes the successful operations of
ex-inoculators, who are unpaid by Government. Last year 8,634 operations should be
deducted from the total, and the average cost would then be As. 1-6. This year
12,272 operations ought so to be deducted, and the correct average raised to As. 1-9.
Introduction and extension of the Com-
pulsory Vaccination Act.
29. So far as can be ascertained, the introduction of the Compulsory Vaccination
Act into Assam has hitherto been a nominal procedure
only. Mention is nowhere made of any officials who are
appointed to see the provisions duly carried out; nor have any punishments been
inflicted for disobedience thereto. The vaccinators appointed by municipalities appear
to have much less to do than elsewhere, or at any rate do less. Some means will no
doubt ultimately come into use for compelling the people within certain limits of
residence to have children vaccinated, but the introduction is yet too recent for punitive
measures. In both Sylhet and Cachar the Magistrates appear to think the people would
be glad to have one law, either by vaccination or inoculation; but such a measure, which
in the present state of our knowledge means vaccination, could not become a Provincial
success, even if authorised by the Legislature, except with a very considerable increase to
the staff of vaccinators and Superintendents.
General review.
30. The general review of vaccination in the Province has undoubtedly a very
favourable aspect for the present year. The opinion of the
late Sanitary Commissioner, Dr. J. J. Clarke, and the
Officiating Chief Commissioner in last year's report, "that the prejudices of the people of
Assam against vaccination have, except perhaps in the hill districts, been considerably
magnified" (paragraph 12), are further confirmed by the incidents of 1883-84, and there is
every reason to hope that with more liberal expenditure from Local Funds, especially
municipalities, the current rate of annual increase could be fully maintained. It is a matter
for sincere congratulation that increased expenditure in this direction has been recently
recommended to Local Boards by the Chief Commissioner in reviewing their Annual
Budget Estimates for 1884-85.
More careful inspection and vaccination
essential to success
31. On the other hand, the corresponding duty which is required of the medical
staff of all grades is that the so-called successful operations
should be entirely genuine and ample to secure protection.
The less scamped vaccination we have, the less we shall hear of "the prejudices of the
people."
Medical officers recommended for favour-
able notice.
32. In conclusion, I beg to recommend for favourable notice the special zeal and
energy shown in vaccination during the current season by
Dr. Macnamara, Civil Surgeon of Sylhet; Mr. McNaught,
Medical Officer, Tura; Dr. R. Neil Campbell, Civil Surgeon, Darrang; and Mr. H. Harvey
Whitwell, Civil Surgeon, Lakhimpur.
Results on the whole good.
33. Khási and Jaintia Hills.—The particulars of operations in the Khási and
Jaintia Hills are favourable; the successful number of
cases recorded being considerably larger than in any previous