6
REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1893-94.
Until the amount of protection is much greater than at present and until in-
accurate registration becomes less general, this table, which is supposed to show
the benefits resulting from vaccination, can but imperfectly serve its purpose.
19. During the year of review the Vaccination Act (as already mentioned)
was introduced into the town of Pegu.
UPPER BURMA.
20. The number of vaccine operations performed in 1893-94 was 98,726,
an increase of 20,735 on the total of the previous year. There is in reality an
increase in all the divisions, though the transference of Myingyan from the
Southern to the Eastern division causes in the former an apparent falling off,
which is more than counterbalanced by the increase in the latter.
21. With the exception of Mandalay, Mônywa, Meiktila, and Myitkyina, in
which a falling off is observable, all districts show, over the totals of the previous
year, an increase, which is most marked at Shwebo (4,364), Kindat (3,491),
Yamèthin (2,702), Sagaing (2,270), and Pakôkku (2,127).
22. The decrease at Mandalay (3,100) chiefly confined to the town, is
attributed to the " perversity and laziness " of the vaccinators, who resented the
appointment in June of an Assistant Superintendent of Vaccination and tried to
work aganist him. Fines were inflicted, which, with threats of dismissal, are
reported to have produced a salutary effect.
The Civil Surgeon at Mônywa attributes the falling off (1,004) to the great
difficulty in procuring efficient vaccinators for the district; one of the two men
at his disposal absconded and the vacancy was not filled up for some time.
Frequent changes of Civil Surgeons and the fact that the duties have for
a considerable portion of the year been performed as a collateral charge by
Military Surgeons, who cannot spare time to work up the district, account for the
falling off and for the backward state of vaccination at Meiktila. The people are
also reported as being unfavourably disposed to vaccination. At Myitkyina the
decrease (23) is trifling, but the absence of progress is attributed to the illness of
vaccinators and the tender-heartedness of parents objecting to see their children
crying under the prick of the vaccination lancet. The Civil Surgeon reports
that Shan-Burmans and Shan-Chinese do not look unfavourably on vaccination,
but that the Kachins view it with suspicion.
23. The Southern Shan States return an increase as compared with the
previous year, the Northern Shan States a decrease, which is attributed to the hos-
tility of the people and the inability of the vaccinator to travel in the district
without an escort.
24. The percentage of success in primary operations (86.35 as compared
with 86.09 in the previous year) has slightly increased.
25. As the result of greater care in classification, the percentage of suc-
cess in re-vaccinations has fallen from 73.61 to 44.73, the total number of
secondary operations being 2,560 as compared with 3,774 in 1892-93.
26. The average number of persons vaccinated by each vaccinator has de-
creased from 2,363 in the previous year to 2,146 in the year under review, the in-
crease in the total number of vaccinations not having kept pace with the increase
in the strength of the establishment.
27. Statement II.—Alterations in the establishment, including a dimi-
nution of three in the number of 1st class, and an increase of 16 in the number
of 2nd class vaccinators and involving an increased cost of Rs. 3,241, have
taken place.
28. Each successful case cost Rs. 0-2-11. This, though slightly in excess
of that of 1892-93 (Rs. 0-2-10), compares favourably with the cost of each suc-
cessful case in Lower Burma (Rs. 0-3-9).
The cost ranges from Rs. 1-4-5 in the Northern Shan States, Rs. 0-10-0 in
Myitkyina, and Rs. 0-9-2 at Meiktila to Rs. 0-0-8 in Shwebo, Rs. 0-1-1 in Kin-
dat, and Rs. 0-1 -3 in Ye-u.
29. Statement III.—The total number of dispensary vaccinations is 2,694
against 2,164 in the previous year. The percentage of success in primary ope-
rations has, however, fallen, from 84.81 in 1892-93 to 80.99 in the year of