4
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1917-18.
The backward position of Katha is attributed to the fact that the Vaccina-
tion Act is not in force in that town. This is true also of Lashio, Taunggyi and
Kalaw. The Act should be applied to these towns without delay.
10. Vaccine Depôt, Meiktila.—It is with much pleasure that I welcome
the return of Lieutenant-Colonel Entrican to the charge of Director of the
Meiktila Vaccine Depôt. His experience of the work of organizing the preparation
and distribution of calf lymph renders him a tower of strength to the whole edifice of
the Vaccination Department of this Province. He assumed charge at the Depôt
in November 1917. Dr. W. D. Jones was in charge up to November 26th. He
has performed his duties with zeal and ability and to my entire satisfaction. I
record my thanks to both these officers, and to the establishment which has
worked efficiently under their control.
Four hundred and thirty-five calves were inoculated against 358 in the year
previous. These yielded 340 ounces of lymph, or an average of 342.2 grains per
calf—a small decrease on the average of 365.5 grains of 1916-17. The number
of doses issued to District Superintendents of Vaccination and others was 666,793
against 726,424 doses in the preceding year. The Director remarks that while
there has been a considerable increase in the outturn of lymph, the number of
doses has decreased. This is due to a substantial increase in the allowance per
dose, from one-seventh to about one-fifth of a grain. Each capillary tube has
been filled to its maximum capacity, so that it contains ample lymph for two
operations.
The Rangoon Health Department received 3,200 grains of seed lymph, and
Loimwe vaccine depôt 160 grains. Military hospitals received 2,530 doses, and
the Tengyüeh Consulate 4,380 doses. A success rate of 96.90 per cent. was
reported in 335,130 primary operations, while 48,383 re-vaccinations returned a
success rate of 50.25 per cent.
As usual there has been much wastage of lymph. Special action is being
taken by this office to check the excessive wastage in the Northern Shan States.
11. Calf Supply.—Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining calves,
owing to the locally available supply being bought up for consumption at the
Turkish prisoners' camp. This has led to some additional expenditure under this
head.
12. Cost of the Depôt.—The expenditure shows an increase of Rs. 3,253
over that of 1916-17. The Director states that part of this excess is fictitious,
the real increase being (a) purchase and hire of calves Rs. 741, (b) contingencies
Rs. 577, including extraordinary repairs to refrigerator, and enhanced cost of
materials, such as cloth, cotton wool, kerosene, etc., (c) cost of feeding calves
not yet sold. The fictitious increase amounts to Rs. 2,314 under the head of
" European Stores," purchased during the two previous years but only paid for
in 1917-18.
13. Training Classes.—Three Native Superintendents of Vaccination went
through a course of study but failed to pass at the final examination. Thirty five
vaccinators were trained and all qualified.
14. Vaccination in the Port of Rangoon.—Under the provisions of section 9
of the Burma Vaccination Law Amendment Act of 1909—11,330 persons
arriving at Rangoon to work as labourers were vaccinated by the Municipal
vaccination staff under the supervision of the Port Health Officer. From the
nature of the circumstances the results of these operations are not known, and
they have therefore been excluded from Statement No. I.
15. Vaccination in Fails.—In 31 jails and 3 subsidiary jails 25,493 persons
were vaccinated, 3,319 by primary, and 22,174 by re-vaccination. Of the former
class of operations 2,420 were successful, and there was 12,374 successful
re-vaccinations.
Statement
II.
16. Private Practitioners.—Report 705 primary and 324 re-vaccinations.
17. Cost of the Department.—The total expenditure during the year was
Rs. 2,21,214-7-0 against Rs. 2,27,671-13-8 in the previous year, a decrease of
Rs. 6,457-6-8.
The average cost for each successful operation for the Province was
8 annas 5 pies against 8 annas 3 pies in the previous year.
C. E. WILLIAMS, M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M.,
Lt.-Col., I.M.S.,
RANGOON, 20th May 1918.
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Burma.