No. 2489.
FROM
COLONEL C. W. CARR-CALTHROP, M.D., Ch.D., I.M.S.,
Principal Medical Officer and Sanitary Commissioner, Assam,
TO
THE SECRETARY TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF ASSAM.
Shillong, the 6th June 1901.
SIR,
I HAVE the honor to forward the Provincial Vaccination Returns for the
season 1900-1901, with brief explanatory notes, as directed by your letter No.
410M.&S.—3473G., dated the 10th May 1901.
2. As the number of vaccination operations performed in our Hill Tracts and in the
Native State of Manipur and their results are accurately known, the statistics given in
this report are based on the total population of Assam, viz., 6,122,201, according to the
census of 1901.
3. The total number of vaccinations performed, viz., 271,466, shows a slight
falling off, as compared with the previous season's work. Sylhet shows a decrease of
8,768, as compared with 1899-1900, but still an increase of 3,299, as compared with
1898-99. The Civil Surgeon reports that prejudices against vaccination seem to be
on the increase rather than the decline. This is probably true, and as there has been
so little small-pox, the people are no doubt careless and obstructive. Sibsagar shows
an increase of 7,353, owing, I have no doubt, to a change in the District Medical Officer.
The Naga Hills tract shows an enormous increase, viz., from 4,214 to 14,086, owing,
as the District Medical Officer states, to a very large number of revaccinations having
been performed, viz., 6,109, as against 172 in the previous season. And the Garo
Hills show a falling off of 12,377, i.e., of nearly one-half. This is not to be wondered at;
indeed, seeing the phenomenal numbers which Dr. Bancroft vaccinated in the two
previous seasons, viz., 15,866 and 28,071, against the usual sum of 6,000 or 7,000, I
am surprised that he has found as many unprotected children as he has done.
4. The cost of each successful operation was much as usual, viz., anna 1-8, varying
from 9 pies in the plains to 5 and 6 annas in the hills.
5. The amount of vaccination work done by dispensary agency fell off to about
three-fourths of last year, principally owing to a decrease of 7,397, or more than half
of their totals, in the two Surma Valley districts. The attention of all concerned will
be called to this unsatisfactory state of affairs. Most of the figures in Statement B
are too small to be of any value : thus one person having been successfully revaccinat-
ed in Cachar, the rate of successful revaccinations for that district is given as
100 per cent.
6. Captain A. Leventon, the present Civil Surgeon of Sibsagar, did the most
inspections, viz., 5,869, and it is due to his exertions that the vaccination work in this
district has so much improved. Dr. Bancroft in the Garo Hills verified 5,194 cases—
a most creditable performance. The average number of cases found successful, as
reported, is probably fairly accurate, and may be accepted in most instances ; but
I should reject as impossible the rate of successful revaccination shown for the Goalpara
district, viz., 98.21.
7. The diagram requires no comment, beyond that the death-rate of Darrang,
viz., 8.00, compares very favourably with 30.7, which was that district's rate for 1899.
8. Appendix I is a statement showing the number of children available for vaccin-
ation in towns where the Vaccination Act is in force and the number of operations
actually performed. From this it appears that nearly 70 per cent. of the children avail-
able for vaccination were protected. The statistics relating to the Sylhet, Goalpara,