2
The successful percentages in primary vaccinations and re-vaccinations in the
case of vaccinators were 98.47 and 78.11, respectively, in 1913-14, against 97.92
and 73.01, respectively, in 1912-13 and 98.19 and 80.28, respectively, in 1911-12.
In the case of the dispensary staff the percentages of success were in 1913-14,
93.28 and 88.47, respectively, against 96.20 and 75.41, respectively, in 1912-13 and
97.54 and 94.87, respectively, in 1911-12 ; and in the case of other agencies
97.17 and 71.89, respectively in 1913-14, against 97 46 and 84.49, respectively, in
1912-13, and 97.28 and 83.33, respectively, in 1911-12
Persons successfully vaccinated per 1,000 of population during the year 1913-14
were 45.59, against 44.57 in 1912-13 and 41.85 in 1911-12. I am unable to accept
the 100 per cent. of success in re-vaccination operations reported from certain
districts.
Different methods of vaccina-
tion.
7. During the triennium all vaccinations were performed with glycerinated
lymph manufactured by the Vaccine Depôt at Shillong.
Vaccination work in different
districts.
8. The subjoined table gives an idea of the progress made in vaccination in the
districts of Assam year by year. By comparing the work
of the triennium under review with that of the previous
triennium we find that there was an increase in eight
districts and a decrease in four. The increase (1,22,741) is most marked in Sylhet,
in which a steady increase has been maintained since 1911-12. As remarked in the
report in 1912-13 small-pox broke out in the subdivisions of Habiganj, Sunamganj and
North Sylhet in this district and a large number of operations were performed in that
year. The Civil Surgeon made an experiment to work the district with licensed
vaccinators and 11 licenses were issued, but as the experiment was not successful,
licensed vaccinators will not be appointed in Sylhet in future. The reasons for the
lack of success of this agency appear to be that much difficulty is experienced
by vaccinators in realizing fees from the people. The Civil Surgeon in his report
acknowledges with appreciation the assistance received from the district executive
in combating popular opposition to vaccination. The next highest increase (36,077)
is reported in the district of Kamrup. The "Mahapurushias" of this district object
on religious grounds to accept vaccination, but their prejudice is being slowly
overcome. 20,667 of them have been vaccinated during the triennium under review
against 4,013 in the previous triennium. The Civil Surgeon remarks that personal
influence is of great value in overcoming this opposition. Nowgong reports an
increase of 9,615 operations. The attention of the district authorities was drawn to
the very unsatisfactory state of vaccination in this district last year: 8 additional
vaccinators were sanctioned by the Local Board and 13,380 operations were performed
in 1913-14, which is the highest in record for the last 15 years. This very satisfactory
increase is due to the efforts of the Civil Surgeon, Lieutenant Charles Bancroft,
energetically supported by the district executive authorities under the Deputy
Commissioner, Mr. J. A. Dawson, I.C.S. Cachar follows with an increase of 7,709
operations. Rai Sahib Behari Lal Dhar, Deputy Inspector of Schools, rendered very
considerable help to the Civil Surgeon in pushing on vaccination in his district.
The increase of 5,946 operations in the Garo Hills is satisfactory. The number of
operations performed in 1913-14 is reported to have been double that of 1912-13.
The figures are obviously so large for this small and sparsely populated district that
I am not satisfied as to their correctness, and I am enquiring into the matter. If
accepted as correct they mean that in a district well known for its want of communi-
cations and with a density of population of 50 persons per square mile the average
number of operations performed by each vaccinator was 4,000, as against the
Sylhet district with a density of 458 persons per square mile and an average of 1,444
operations for each vaccinator. The Civil Surgeon reports that people were under
the impression that a single vaccination in infancy is sufficient protection for life, but
when it was explained to them that vaccination to be effective must be repeated every
6 or 7 years, a large number of re-vaccinations were performed. The Civil Surgeon
of Darrang remarks that vaccination is progressing slowly and he believes that the
people now understand its benefit. The prejudices of the Miri sect who were
formerly opposed to vaccination are now being overcome. A decrease of 6,699
operations in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills district during the triennium as compared
with the number of the previous triennium is partly due to the abnormal activity
displayed in 1908-09 ; but in view of the fact that the vaccinating staff was
strengthened by 5 additional permanent vaccinators and one additional Sub-Inspector
of Vaccination in October 1911, more activity should have been displayed. The
decrease of 7,228 operations in the district of Sibsagar during the triennium is said