4
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1911-12.
Yamèthin Municipality, where the birth rate returned for the year 1911 is ridi-
culously low (114) while only 29 infants, whose birth had been registered in the
town, survived for vaccination, yet 149 were actually vaccinated. Attention
must be directed to Pegu (258 successful out of a possible 377), Prome (291 out
of 715), Wakèma (87 out of 125), Kyangin (188 out of 248), Allanmyo (253 out
of 346), Akyab (273 out of 404). The falling off from an approach to the avail-
able limit of infant vaccination in Prome and Pegu Towns has been noticeable for
the past two years or more. In Prome Town in 1910-11 out of 739 available infants,
only 262 were successfully vaccinated. In the previous year the successful
operations were in excess of the surviving infants. The recent severe mortality
from small-pox in Prome Town must be attributed in part to this neglect of infant
vaccination. Among the 629 cases recorded in the first three months of the
current year, there were 170 children under 6 years of age, of whom 82 died, 41
were between six months and two years, and of these only 14 had been vaccinated.
There were 72 children over two years of age and under six, attacked, of whom
55 had been vaccinated. These figures are evidence that vaccination work was
performed in a more thorough manner in the earlier years of the period embraced
by the ages mentioned, than in the later years.
10. Inoculation and Legislation.—An
inoculator discovered at work in the
Hlègu Township, Pegu District, was prosecuted and sentenced to one month's
imprisonment. Two other inoculators were convicted of inoculating in the Pegu
District, and were each fined Rs. 50. These punishments appear to be quite
inadequate to put clown inoculation which is undoubtedly the cause of much of
the small-pox in the province, and is responsible for many deaths. Recom-
mendations have recently been submitted to Government for the extension of the
Act for the prohibition of inoculation to all Districts of Lower Burma, and for the
reorganization of the Vaccination Establishment, a scale of salaries being
suggested which will offer greater attractions to vaccinators in the way of pay
and promotion. On account of the epidemic of small-pox, Section IX of the
Vaccination Law Amendment Act (1909) was resuscitated in the Port of Rangoon
during the four months from April to July 1911.
11. Vaccine Depôt, Meiktila.—The
post of Director of the Depôt was filled
by Captain H. A. Dougan, I.M.S., from the 1st April 1911 until the 30th January
1912, when he was replaced by Major Dick, I.M.S., who held the post until the
close of the official year. My thanks are due to both these officers for the
interest taken by them in the duties connected with the institution.
Supply of Calves.—Calves were obtained on the hire system instead of being
purchased and resold, as in previous years. Lymph for 693,913 operations was
issued against 613,444 in 1910-11, the excess being about 79,000 cases over the
issue of 1909-10, the previous highest record. Glycerinated vaccine paste was
prepared for 717,624 operations. Lanoline paste for 11,560. In 322,658 primary
operations, of which results were reported, the percentage of success was 96.58, and
in re-vaccination out of 42,794 reported results, the percentage of success was 69.83.
Mortality among the calves was low, as a result of the hire system. This
system also proved financially economical, both in first cost of the calves and in
feeding, as well as in a saving due to decreased mortality. The number of
vaccinated calves during the year was 390. Successive Directors of the Vaccine
Depôt have, during the last few years, repeatedly drawn attention to the necessity
for an increase in the teaching staff and for greater accommodation for teaching,
for stabling the calves, and for the Staff. A pure water-supply is also needed.
Funds being available, apparatus for Cold Storage on a small scale was recently
purchased, and will shortly be installed at the Depôt. This will permit of the
maintenance of a larger stock of lymph than formerly manufactured during the
cold season for use during the hot weather.
The Director speaks highly of the work done by Sub-Assistant Surgeon
Govinda Pillay, the Assistant Director of the Institute, and also favourably
mentions that of Head Loader, Shambudayal.
C. E. WILLIAMS, M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M., Major,
I.M.S.,
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Burma.