TRIENNIAL REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEARS 1011-13 TO 1913-14
7
shewn in the work by the local head of the department and these often afford a
valuable indication of his capacity for the appointment he fills.
But although some district Superintendents of Vaccination could undoubtedly
do more than they have hitherto done to popularize vaccination in the areas within
their charge, it has also to be admitted that there are serious limitations to the
prosecution of their duties in this respect. To supervise vaccination in rural areas
with any thoroughness it is necessary to employ an officer of a higher stamp than
the native Superintendent and to give him every facility for making tours of
considerable duration in those parts of the district which are not readily accessible
from headquarters. He must also be able to give a large share of his time and
personal attention to the organization and control of his subordinate staff. It is
quite impossible for the average Civil Surgeon to fulfil these conditions, owing to
the press of other duties, and the prior claims of the Medical and Jail departments
for his presence at headquarters. This has long been recognized, and representa-
tions have been made to the Local Government with a view to obtaining qualified
assistants to relieve the Civil Surgeon in certain districts of his responsibilities in
connection with rural vaccination.
15. Vaccination in Jails.—This has been well maintained throughout the
triennial period. During 1913-14, in an average population of 16,746 prisoners,
26,017 were vaccinated. There were 2,173 primary cases with 1,864 or 85.78 per
cent. successes, and 23,844 re-vaccinations with a success rate of 70.93.
16. Inoculation of Small-pox virus.—Inoculators were found at work during
1913-14 in several districts in connection with outbreaks of small-pox some of
which appear to have originated from this operation. These districts were Akyab,
Sandoway, Bassein, Myaungmya, Pegu, Thatôn, Meiktila, Lower Chindwin, Katha.
In Pegu District, where the act for the prohibition of inoculation is in force, one
inoculator, an ex-vaccinator, was convicted, and 22 persons who had allowed
themselves to be inoculated, were prosecuted and fined.
Statement
No. III.
17. Dispensary Vaccination.—The highest totals were obtained in 1912-13,
viz., a total of operations of 10,703, with 5,968 primary cases and 4,737 re-vaccina-
tions. The total in 1913-14 was 5,667, the decline in primary cases being 2,395,
and in re-vaccinations 2,643.
In Arakan and Sagaing Divisions, and in the Shan States there was an
increase in the total operations performed ; these amounted in Arakan to 434, and
in Sagaing to 1,412. The decrease was most marked in Irrawaddy Division (714
from 1,377), Tenasserim (641 from 2,891), Mandalay (299 from 1,944), and
Meiktila (100 from 570). The decline has been steady during the three years in
both Pegu and Irrawaddy Divisions. The only explanation which is of any weight
in accounting for this decline is the decrease in epidemic small-pox in these
divisions.
The percentage of success attained in 1913-14 in primary operations was
92.26 and in re-vaccinations 61.20.
18. Meiktila Vaccine Depôt.—The report submitted for 1913-14 by the
Director of the Vaccine Depôt, Meiktila, is an unusually interesting one. It
shows that the outturn of work by the depôt has increased progressively year by
year throughout the last two triennial periods and that the quality of the vaccine
lymph and paste produced has been maintained and even improved.
Thanks to careful supervision by the Director, Major E. A. Walker, I.M.S.,
considerable economies have been effected in the cost of upkeep of the institution,
especially in the feeding of calves, and to a simple modification of the method
previously in use for the vaccination of the calves. This improvement in tech-
nique we owe to the industry of the Assistant Director, Sub-Assistant Surgeon
P. Govinda Pillay, Rao Sahib, and has led to a greatly augmented yield of lymph
of high potency.
By the new method the average yield obtained from cow calves at the depôt
is stated to be 48.2 grammes.
Percentage successes.—In 348,031 primary operations of which the result
was communicated, the success-rate was 96.75 per cent. which is the best return
yet obtained. In 1909-10, the success-rate was 94.9 and it has risen annually
since that year.
Statement
No. II.
Expenditure.—Expenditure on the upkeep of the depôt (including the training
school for vaccinators) has increased year by year since 1908-09. From
Rs. 13,290 in 1911-12 it rose to Rs. 15,900 in 1913-14. The increase in cost in
1913-14 over the preceding year amounts to Rs. 1,895 which is accounted for by