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NOTES ON VACCINATION IN ASSAM FOR THE YEAR 1923-24.
1. Introductory.—The charge of the department was held by Lieut.-Colonel
T. C. McCombie Young, I.M.S., from the beginning of the year to the 16th November,
Colonel C. H. Bensley, I.M.S., Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals and Prisons, from
the 17th to the 30th November and myself from the 1st December to the end of the
year. The post of the Assistant Director of Public Health was held by Dr. S. R. Rao,
up to the 6th August.
2. Vaccination Agencies.—As usual, in plains districts vaccination was carried
out by the staff of vaccinators paid by local bodies and in hill districts by the staff
paid by Government. The total number of vaccinators employed during the year
1923-24 was 425, as compared with 433 in the year 1922-23. The number of
vaccinators employed in the 'Cachar district was reduced by 5 by the Silchar Local
Board and in the Sylhet district by 7 by the Habiganj Local Board. This is unfor-
tunate as it is inconsistent with the policy advocated by this department in 1918
whereby it was recommended that the staff for each district should be such as will
ensure every village being visited at least once every year. The average number of
persons vaccinated by each vaccinator during the year was 849 against 810 in the
preceding year.
3. Total number of operations.—The total number of operations performed in
Assam during the year 1923-24 was 385,579, of which 313,594 were primary
operations and 71,985 revaccinations, as compared with 376,447 of which 300,895
were primary operations and 75,552 revaccinations in the year 1922 23. This shows
an increase of 12,699 in primary operations and a decrease of 3,567 in revaccinations.
The number of operations performed during the year by different agencies was as
follows:—
360,750 operations by departmental vaccinators.
2,099 operations by dispensary staff.
19,418 operations by tea garden agencies.
3,080 operations by jail, asylum, police and emigration hospital agencies.
232 operations by railway agency.
4. Deaths from small-pox.—The ratio of mortality from small-pox in Assam in
the year 1923-24 was .40 per mille of population, as compared with .38 in 1922-23.
The highest ratios, viz., those of 2.72 and 1.33, were reported from the districts of
Nowgong and Kamrup, respectively, in which small-pox broke out in an epidemic
form. Every possible measure was undertaken to stamp out the disease by vaccinat-
ing and revaccinating the people of the affected villages. Obstruction in many
instances had to be overcome by persuasion on the part of vaccinators and inspecting
staff, and when this failed, the offenders were reported to the Deputy Commissioners
concerned, who summoned them to appear and show cause for their refusal. This
resulted in most of them being vaccinated. Civil Surgeons, who were quite satisfied
with the work of the subordinate staff, report that everything possible was done and
they are of the opinion that more satisfactory results cannot be expected unless the
administrating authority is invested with powers, whereby compulsion can be
enforced against those who refuse vaccination in spite of all persuasion. No epidemic
was reported from any other district.
5. Dispensary Vaccination.—The total number of persons vaccinated in dispen-
saries during the year 1923-24 was 2,099, as compared with 1,641 in the preceding year.
6. Percentage of successful operations.—The percentage of success in primary
vaccinations was 95.58 and that for revaccination was 59.32, as compared with. 94.99
and 63.01, respectively, in 1922-23. The percentages of success in primary operations,
viz., 89.37 and 88.62, reported from the Lushai and Garo Hills districts were low and
those. in revaccination, viz., 81.06 and 85.43, reported from Naga Hills and Garo Hills,
respectively, were too high, compared with the provincial ratios for those two classes of
operations.
7. Different methods of Vaccination.—As usual, all vaccinations were performed
with glycerinated lymph manufactured in the Vaccine Depôt at Shillong.