4
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1914—15.
The greater part of the decrease occurred in Pegu and Sagaing Divisions,
1,172 and 1,006 operations respectively. No Dispensary Vaccination was
returned in either year for Prome, Pyapôn, Henzada, Tavoy, Bhamo, Ruby Mines,
Thayetmyo, Minbu, Yamèthin, Kyauksè and Myingyan Districts, in which all
vaccination work at stations where there are dispensaries appears to be performed
by the regular Vaccination Staff, and is therefore included in Statement No. I of
the Appendix to these Notes.
There is no doubt that the falling off in Dispensary Vaccination does not
really represent an equivalent diminution in the protection offered to the public
against small-pox through these institutions. When small-pox is rife many take
the opportunity of proximity to a dispensary to get themselves or their children
vaccinated, when provision is not made for immediate attention being given them
by the town vaccinators. But the rarity of small-pox outbreaks in 1914-15 (there
were only 241 deaths from this cause in Lower Burma and 17 in Upper Burma), is
sufficient to account for the small outturn of Dispensary Vaccination during the
year, just as it is a true if partial explanation of the general decrease in vaccination
returns for the Province as a whole.
Statement I.
12. Percentage ratio of success obtained.—The provincial percentage ratio
of successful results to operations performed was for primary operations 94.93,
and for revaccination 60.46 against 96.59 and 65.40 in the previous year.
Low average percentages are returned by Bhamo 82.53 per cent., Sandoway
82.68 per cent., Tavoy 85.50 per cent., Mergui 86.12 per cent., Akyab 86.93 per
cent. All these districts are unfavourably situated with regard to postal com-
munications with the Meiktila Vaccine Depôt, and deterioration of the lymph
before use must sometimes occur.
13. Vaccination results obtained by private agencies.—Medical Practitioners,
private vaccinators and Missionaries returned 6,879 primary and 926 revaccina-
tions successfully performed.
14. Vaccination in Jails.—In an average population of 18,853 prisoners, there
were 26,475 operations with 17,765 successful results.
15. Meiktila Vaccine Depôt and Training School.—The quantity of vaccine
lymph obtained from the calves was 269.4 ounces against 267.4 in the previous
year, and 271.9 in 1912-13. The issues amounted to 730,986 doses which was
24,128 less than in the previous year. The number of calves used was 282, which
was less than in 1913-14 (361) and 1912-13 (477). The average yield from each
calf exceeded that of either of the two preceding years, being 465.8 grains against
326.8 and 287.4 respectively.
The Director found it desirable to reinvigorate the strain of lymph on several
occasions by the use of strains obtained from Bangalore and Belgaum, by lymph
obtained from a buffalo calf, from children, and by passage through rabbits (14
times).
The total outturn of lymph was 776,432 doses which was in excess of
the demand. Glycerinated lymph alone was issued except for some seed-lymph
mixed with Lanoline sent to Loimwe for use in the Vaccine Depôt at that station.
The results reported from 314,490 primary operations were successful in 94.97
per cent. of cases against 96.75 per cent. in the previous year.
Five Native Superintendents and thirty-five vaccinators were under training
during the year. Thirty-one vaccinators qualified within the prescribed period of
three months.
The net expenditure was Rs. 15,024-13-7 against Rs. 16,357-6-2 in the
previous year. There was a saving of Rs. 701 on the purchase of calves. There
was an increase in salaries due to the addition of a mechanic and fireman to the
subordinate staff.
An ice-machine capable of turning out 75 pounds of ice per diem was installed
early in the year, and has worked satisfactorily. It is driven by a gas engine
supplied from a gas generator and tank.
Major E. A. Walker, I.M.S., was Director until the 16th September when he
was mobilized for military duty and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Penny,
I.M.S., who in his turn was succeeded by Lieutenant L. K. Rodriguez, I.S.M.D.
Up to the 17th July 1914, when the Assistant Director, Sub-Assistant
Surgeon P. Govinda Pillai, Rao Sahib, returned from leave, Sub-Assistant Surgeon
Ramachandram held charge of his duties.
My thanks are due to the above named officers and also to the inferior staff
for the careful and efficient performance of their duties throughout the year.
The new building for the Laboratory of the Depôt was completed during the
year and is now in occupation.
C. E. WILLIAMS, M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M., Lt.-Col., I.M.S.,
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Burma.