REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1891-92.
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26. The number of persons successfully vaccinated per 1,000 of popu-
lation has increased from 10.57 to 14.37.
27. The average cost of each successful case was Re. 0-3-2 as against Re.
0-4-2 in 1890-91 and Re. 0-4-9 in 1889-90. The cost ranges from Re. 1-1-5 in
the Northern Shan States, Re. 0-14-5 in Mogaung, Rs. 0-8-10 in Meiktila to
Re. 0-1-5 in Ye-u and Mingyan, and Re. 0-1-4 in Upper Chindwin.
28. The average number of operations performed by each vaccinator has
increased from 1,143 in 1889-90, 1,356 in 1890-91, to 1,812 in 1891-92. The
increase varies from 2,955 in Yeu, 1,531 in Mandalay, 1,342 in Sagaing, to 156
in Minbu, 132 in Shwebo, and 140 in Mogaung.
The following districts show a decrease in the average number of oper-
ations performed:—Katha, Upper Chindwin, Gangaw, Kyauksè, Meiktila,
Yamèthin, and Pyinmana.
29. At Mandalay 4,834 infants were vaccinated during the year as against
2,066 in 1890-91. The Civil Surgeon considers that this large increase is chiefly
due to the recent extension of the Vaccination Act to Mandalay.
30. In Bhamo the total number of operations has increased from 112
to 1,208.
31. The Civil Surgeon, Mogaung, reports that the people of the district are
much prejudiced against the operation.
32. At Katha owing to the carelessness and indifference of the people it
has been found exceedingly difficult to keep up arm-to-arm vaccination. The
Civil Surgeon states that a widespread prejudice against the operation still
exists, and that at Mohnyin and Mobin the vaccinators experienced open
resistance.
33. At Ye-u the Civil Surgeon considers that the success obtained (an in-
crease of 2,955 operations) is greatly due to the assistance given by the Deputy
Commissioner, who impressed on Subdivisional and Township Officers the neces-
sity of explaining to the people the benefits derived from vaccination and of
advising them to submit to the operation.
34. At Sagaing private vaccinators performed a total of 3,835 operations,
with 3,477 successful results, of which 1,243 were verified; these cases are not
included in the totals of Statements I and III.
35. The Civil Surgeon, Lower Chindwin, reports that the dislike to vacci-
nation is very great, and that the people object to the removal of lymph from the
vaccine vesicles.
36. The Civil Surgeon, Upper Chindwin, is unable to account satisfactorily
for the falling off in the total cases.
37. At Kyauksè there was a decrease of 81 in the total number of cases.
The Civil Surgeon states in explanation that the vaccinator suffered throughout
the year from intermittent fever, which frequently rendered him unfit for work.
38. At Meiktila there was a decrease of 202 cases. The Civil Surgeon
remarks that the people placed many obstacles in the way of vaccination ; some
pleaded that the children were too young, others that the weather was unfavour-
able, whilst a few maintained that the operation was cruel and unnecessary.
39. At Yamèthin the total number of cases was 137 less than the preced-
ing year, but the percentage of successes was increased from 75.88 to 83.71.
The Civil Surgeon states that vaccination was carried on with considerable
difficulty; he attributes the decrease in the number of operations partly to the
great scarcity that has prevailed in the district, and partly to the fact that
during the month of April the vaccinator was incapacitated by sickness and
unable to work.
40. At Pyinmana the total cases have increased from 2,678 to 3,235; but
the Civil Surgeon reports that the people do not take kindly to vaccination,
that they are averse to the removal of lymph from the vaccine vesicles, and
that immediately after the operation they frequently apply medicaments to
destroy the vaccine virus.
41. Statement No. II.—The total cost during the year was Rs. 9,712 as
against Rs. 8,158 in 1890-91, being an increase of Rs. 1,554.
42. The expenditure under the head of Establishments was Rs. 6,942 as
against Rs. 6,496, an increase of Rs. 446, due to the increase of the establishment.
2