4
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1918-19.
Pakôkku, Yamèthin. On the other hand the Civil Surgeon, Sagaing, only
verified 790 primary cases, a percentage of 5.50, the Civil Surgeon, Mergui 127
and 2.10, the Civil Surgeon, Upper Chindwin 28 and 0.40. Special circumstances
no doubt facilitated personal verification by Civil Surgeons in some cases, such
as concentration of population in large towns, and special facilities for touring,
while contrary factors are' responsible for some of the low percentages of
verification work obtained. Supervisors of Vaccination and other inspecting
officers who returned a specially large percentage of verifications were those of
Insein District (81.58), Pegu (78.69), Tavoy (77.11), Lower Chindwin (79.78),
Thayetmyo (77.56), Kyauksè (90.28), Ruby Mines (94.32) and Myitkyina (81.24),
the two last named on a very small total of primary operations. Supervisors of
Vaccination returning a low output of verification work were those of Tharrawaddy
(14.36 per cent.), Henzada (1.24 per cent.), Toungoo (6.93 per cent ).
13. Vaccine Depôt, Meiktila.—The report received from the Director of the
Depôt is one of unusual interest, and shows that the year has been one of
unexampled activity and productiveness at the Depôt, Colonel Entrican's assiduity
and resource have overcome many and grave obstacles to the maintenance
of the supplies of lymph at a critical period, and I cannot express too highly my
appreciation of the valuable service he has thereby rendered to the administra-
tion. By organizing fresh lines of supply of calves when the hire-system broke
down, grappling efficiently with a serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
among the herd, and devising new methods of tubing and storing glycerinated
lymph, he has not only been able to meet very large extra demands for lymph
consequent on a widespread epidemic of small-pox, but has also produced a better
output of lymph per calf, and a higher percentage of successful cases in districts
where deterioration of lymph in transit had previously been responsible for an
unsatisfactorily low success ratio.
Comparing the outturn and issue of lymph of the year under review with
that of 1916-17, the year next in order of high productivity, the number of calves
inoculated in 1918-19 was 523, an increase of 165 on the earlier year ; the total
yield of lymph was 471.5 ounces against 279 ounces ; the average yield per calf was
423.5 grains against 365.5 grains ; and the issues 755,923 doses against 726,424.
The higher yield of lymph was due to a better class of calf secured under a new
system of supply.
The monthly issues of lymph during January, February and March have
almost doubled, seriously reducing the reserve stock, which at the close of the
financial year was little more than a month's supply.
Serious difficulties experienced with the '' producer " supplying the. gas engine,
with consequent inability to work the cold-storage plant, led to the purchase of
an oil engine, which has been installed and will obviate in future the grave risk
of loss of lymph in stock which this failure in motive power involved.
Owing to this purchase, and the extra cost of calves and of their feed during
a period when fodder reached a very high price, the total expenditure on the
depôt exceeded that of 1917-18 by Rs. 5,367-15-9; but on the other hand the
amount recouped by the sale of calves and lymph and paid into the Treasury
exceeded the recoveries of the previous year by Rs. 3,449-14-9. A further sum
of Rs. 775 representing expenditure in the previous year was owing to a delay in
the office of the Accountant-General debited against the budget of the year under
review. The nett expenditure in 1918-19 when these sums have been deducted
from the total becomes Rs. 18,621-5-11 or only Rs. 143-1-0 more than in
1917-18. The larger output of lymph in the year under review, amounting to
89,130 doses reduces the cost per dose to 4.73 pies against 5.32 pies in 1917-18
and a saving has thereby been effected on the cost of lymph estimated at the
previous year's rate per dose of Rs. 2,323-15-11.
Statement
II.
14. Cost of the Department.— The total expenditure in 1918-19 was
Rs. 2,27,709-4-11 which shows an increase on that for 1917-18 of Rs. 6,494-13-11.
The average cost for each successful operation was for the Province
Re. 0-7-8 against Re. 0-8-5 in the previous year.
RANGOON, 27th May 1919.
C. E. WILLIAMS, M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M.,
Lieut.-Col., I.M.S.,
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Burma.