14
NOTES ON THE STATISTICS OF VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1899-1900.
coolies before their arrival here, and as the Government of Madras were unwilling
to move in the matter by causing coolies to be protected before being permitted to
emigrate, it became necessary to take such steps as would, without undue inter-
ference with trade or the labour market, afford this Government the means of having
cooly emigrants protected. Colonel Sinclair, I.M.S., then Sanitary Commis-
sioner and Superintendent-General of Vaccination, expressed himself as not
being satisfied as to the contention that Indians were less well-protected than
Burmans. The number of the latter class who came under treatment was so
small that he considered it not safe to lay too much stress on the inference indi-
cated. Notification of contagious diseases, he considered, to be defective in
Rangoon, and he was inclined to the belief that Burmans and the better-to-do
classes of Indians avail themselves of their greater facilities for concealment, and,
but for this, that the small-pox statistics relating to them would more nearly ap-
proach those relating to the cooly class, who have no friends and whose houses
are barracks or lodging-houses. He pointed out that of 2,208 cases notified, no
less than 476 or over 21 per cent. returned as unvaccinated were children, i.e.,
males under 14 and females under 8 years of age, all or the majority of whom
should have been vaccinated. Moreover a larger proportion of fatal cases occurred
amongst children returned as vaccinated than should have taken place had the
protection been adequate. Colonel Sinclair was, therefore, of opinion that all
available means for protecting the inhabitants of Rangoon had not been exhaust-
ed. There were difficulties, but these he considered could be overcome by giving
full effect to the provisions contained in sections 135, 136 and 172 of the Burma
Municipal Act of 1898. The question was referred by Government to a select
Committee of the Burma Legislative Council, the outcome of whose delibera-
tions was the Burma Vaccination Law Amendment Bill, which has now passed
into law as Burma Act No. II of 1900. Under the provisions of this Act, Municipal
authorities can require unprotected persons to be vaccinated after due notice, and
inmates of lodging-houses to submit forthwith to vaccination.
Inoculation.
14. Inoculation prevails pretty generally throughout the province. In muni-
cipalities the inoculator can be legally dealt with, but it
is not infrequent to hear of inoculators working within
municipal limits and the people countenancing them to such an extent as to posi-
tively refuse to give any information on the subject. In the districts outside muni-
cipal areas he appears to practice his calling without restriction, discrediting vacci-
nation wherever he goes as it interferes with his means of livelihood, and spread-
ing small-pox from village to village.
Lymph supply.
15. Vaccination was carried on during the year by means of humanized
lymph through arm to arm transfer, and by glyceri-
nated animal vaccine prepared at the Rangoon and
Taunggyi depôts. In some municipal towns lanoline lymph obtained from Banga-
lore was used to a small extent. No details have been given in district reports of
the work done with the various kinds of lymph, but the results obtained by arm to
arm vaccination would appear to have been good. This method of vaccination
has obvious disadvantages and objections, and orders have issued that it must be
discontinued as far as possible.
(a) Rangoon.—The lymph manufactured at Rangoon has yielded fairly suc-
cessful results. The Health Officer, Rangoon Municipality, states that the results
obtained by the use of his glycerinated lymph, both locally and by Civil Surgeons
up-country, were very satisfactory and met all reasonable requirements. During
the year under review 126 calves were vaccinated at the depôt of which 33 proved
unsuccessfull owing to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The amount of
vaccine prepared was 27,390 grains of which 21,471 grains were sent out to Civil
Surgeons and local practitioners, 5,500 grains were used in the Rangoon Vacci-
nation circle, and 419 grains, which deteriorated, were thrown away.
The calves are supplied by contract at Rs. 7 per calf, and are returned to
the contractor when done with. They are kept under observation, both before
and during the process which, it is stated, is conducted with most rigid and anti-
septic precautions. The cost incurred in the manufacture of the lymph amount-
ed to Rs. 1,660 as against Rs. 996 in the previous year. The increase in expendi-