IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1906-1907.
3
In speaking of these rival preparations, Major Entrican takes, in my opinion, a
very reasonable view of their respective positions. He shows that where duration
of vitality is requisite under tropical conditions, undoubtedly lanoline takes the first
place. Thus, he states : " For the preservation of good stocks of lymph nothing
is equal to lanoline. In fact, from my experience, nothing else is any use at all.
But it must be the best and purest lanoline. Anything else is a delusion and a
snare. " To this I would add that, lanoline being of a thick consistency, more
manual skill on the part of the vaccinator is required than with the more fluid
glycerine, and that this largely dominates statistical results. Thus, I have found
vaccinators in this country first dab on an excess amount of lanoline-vaccine and
then attempt to scarify through the opaque mass. The method is absurd
and unsuitable. In vaccinating with this preparation, scarification should be first
made, without causing oozing of blood, and by gentle stretching the lines should
be made to gape, and thus the vaccine be worked into them. Training of vacci-
nators as to such simple points makes all the difference between indifferent and
excellent vaccination with a preparation indubitably peculiarly well suited for
work in the tropics.
9. Major Entrican has undertaken a series of interesting experiments on the
question of lymph preservation. He shows that " quinated lymph " need no longer
be employed with sterilized mucilage, and that it is effective in producing a marked
diminution of extraneous organisms. Many experiments were made on chloroform-
ing for extermination of extraneous organisms, both of glycerinated and quinated
lymph. His opinion is given thus : " Chloroforming lymph which can be used
within a week of its manufacture may be an advantage, but I have no doubt
whatever as to its utter unsuitability in this country for lymphs which, to be of any
use, must retain their vitality 10 to 20 or more days. The purification of the
lymph is purchased at a cost out of all proportions to the advantage gained, and I
have for ordinary purposes quite discarded the use of chloroform." Not only did
he try the ordinary method of passing purified air impregnated with chloroform
through lymph in bulk, and removing the excess chloroform by a current of air, but
excogitated a new method of using a minute quantity of chloroform at the moment
of sealing, by employing bottling wax dissolved in chloroform. Effects upon
extraneous organisms were contrasted with control glycerinated specimens sealed
by ordinary heat, with the result of exhibiting great superiority, so far as extraneous
organisms are concerned, of the chloroform method.
10. The question of the extent to which small-pox inoculation is causative
of spread of small-pox occupied the attention of Government during the year.
It formed the opinion that, having regard to the strong prejudice of the people
in its favour, the best course to meet it was to provide better facilities for spread
of vaccination under skilled and correctly supervised staffs, aided by compulsory
vaccination. With this end in view, I was required to select districts where urgency
seemed to exist, and to submit proposals for the re-organization of the depart-
ment within these limits. Consequently, no proposals for a general re-organization
of the Vaccination Department, as promised in my last notes, were submitted to
Government. In regard to selection of Districts, considerable correspondence
ensued with Civil Surgeons ; and it was not till the completion of the official year
I was in a position to place proposals before Government.
11. The sum of Rs. 850 was placed at my disposal for improving the
equipment of vaccination in the Province. This has been utilized, and, as soon as
the task of " assembling " the various articles, so as to form a compact portable
haversack of non-conducting materials can be completed, they will be issued.
12. Having regard to the proved unsuitability of the high temperature, at
certain seasons of the year, on the plains, I placed proposals before Government
for the opening of a vaccine institute in the favourable climate of Maymyo.
W. G. KING, M.B., D.P.H., COL., I.M.S.,
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Burma.