4
TRIENNIAL REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEARS 1896-97—1898-99.
Tharrawaddy.
Sagaing.
It will be seen from the above that in 21 out of a total of 37 districts, exclu-
ding the Chin Hills, there has been a steady increase in the total amount of
work done during the triennium. In the districts named in the margin the out-
turn has, on the other hand, continuously declined.
Of the remaining districts, Mergui, Lower Chindwin,
Upper Chindwin, Minbu, Meiktila, Yamèthin, South-
ern Shan States, Thatôn and Pakôkku show a falling off in 1897-98 and a rise in
1898-99; but the rise in the case of the first seven more than makes up the de-
ficiency of 1897-98, while the Arakan Hill Tracts, Hanthawaddy, Pegu, Katha,
and Shwebo are characterized by a decrease in 1898-99. The decline in Tharra-
waddy is explained to be due to frequent changes among vaccinators, owing to
a number of these subordinates having resigned their appointments, to the failure
of the Health Officer, Rangoon, to supply lymph for several weeks, and lastly to
the illness of one of the district vaccinators in 1898-99.
In Sagaing the decrease is ascribed to the bad work of a vaccinator, who
was eventually removed from his appointment. The falling off in Lower Chind-
win is small and therefore does not call for comment, while in Mergui and Minbu
it is not satisfactorily explained. The smaller number of operations in Upper
Chindwin is attributed to the paucity of children, and the deficiency in Meiktila
and Southern Shan States is reported to be due to the prevalence of cholera in
an epidemic form, in consequence of which the vaccinators were withdrawn from
vaccination work and employed in distributing medicines and looking after the
sick in the cholera infected villages. In Yamèthin the reduction is ascribed to
the vaccinator being ill or otherwise absent for short periods. The decrease at
Thatôn is said to be attributable to frequent changes among vaccinators, while
the marked decline at Pakôkku is put down to the town vaccinator not being
allowed to work outside municipal limits, to the illness of a district vaccinator,
and to the inability of the Civil Surgeon to go out on vaccination tours as fre-
quently as before. The fall in Arakan Hill tracts is said to be due to the popular
prejudice against vaccination as well as the slackness of the vaccinator who was
adequately punished.
In Pegu the poor results in 1898-99 are attributed to bad lymph and lack of
energy on the part of the vaccinators. In Hanthawaddy, Katha, and Shwebo the
smaller outturn is ascribed to the absence of a certain number of vaccinators on
account of ill health or private affairs and the inexperience and inefficiency of
their substitutes. The explanation afforded by the Superintendents of Tharra-
waddy, Thatôn, and Pakôkku are especially unsatisfactory.
Prome.
Mergui.
Kyauksè.
Pakôkku.
Southern Shan States.
8. The percentage of success in primary cases shows general improvement.
The increase has been steady and progressive in 16
districts, while the 5 districts named in the margin
are conspicuous for a continuous falling off under
this head. The largest increase occurred in Hantha-
waddy (19.64per cent.) and Katha (15.17 per cent.)
and the greatest decline took place in Pakôkku (20.78 per cent.). The fluctua-
tions in other districts were small and unimportant. On the whole the ratios were
highest in Bassein, Tharrawaddy, Minbu, Amherst, and Sandoway, and lowest in
the Northern Shan States, Myitkyina, and Pakôkku.
Name.
Shwebo ...
Sagaing ...
1896-97.
5,079
3,311
1897-98.
4,547
3,151
1898-99.
4,420
3,037
9. The average number of persons vaccinated by each vaccinator has
likewise considerably increased in the majority of districts. In the two dis-
tricts noted in the margin, however,
there has been a steady decrease in this
respect, while in Meiktila, Pakôkku,
Toungoo, Myingyan, Henzada, Tavoy,
and Thatôn there was a large decline
under this head in 1897-98 and in San-
doway, Pegu, Hanthawaddy, and the Northern Shan States there was a falling off
in 1898-99. The average was highest on the whole in Sandoway, Amherst,
Shwebo, Pakôkku, and Hanthawaddy, and lowest in Myitkyina, Northern Shan
States, Arakan Hill Tracts, Akyab, Myaungyma, Bassein, Bhamo, Salween,
Yamèthin, Kyaukpyu, and Southern Shan States.
10. A table similar to that on page 3, giving particulars of vaccination in.
municipal towns, is annexed—