2
NOTES ON THE STATISTICS OF VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1900-01.
(47.54), Thôngwa (51.28), Upper Chindwin (52.90), and Sagaing (54.69). In
most other districts the rates ranged between 100 and 80 per cent.
The low rate of success attained in the districts above mentioned is chiefly
attributed to the indifferent quality of the lymph supplied, especially the Taunggyi
lymph, but these results might also be not incorrectly put down to unskilfulness in
the use of the manufactured virus. One Civil Surgeon remarks "that every case
on which I operated myself and which I was able to verify the result was success-
ful."
The Civil Surgeon, Chin Hills, remarks that a large number of the vaccina-
tions were carried on by Hospital Assistants on column duty, and as the column
moved on the cases were never seen again.
Infantile vaccination.
5. The total number of infants under one year of age available for vac-
cination in Municipal towns was 17,970, while the
number shown to have been protected were 21,189.
The table prescribed by the Government of India in letter No. 89-Sanitary,
dated the 8th January 1900, is given as Appendix B and shows the amount of
infantile vaccination performed in Municipalities.
The excess of infants protected over infants available can scarcely be satis-
factorily explained, but Civil Surgeons attribute the excess to outsiders who came
into the towns for temporary residence or on business.
Statement II.
Cost.
6. The total expenditure on account of vaccination, including all charges,
was Rs. 78,853-9-4 as compared with Rs. 73,683-7-5
in the previous year, and the cost of each successful
case As. 3-5 as against As. 2-7 in 1899-1900.
The increase in expenditure is thus accounted for —
(a) increase in the average number of vaccinators employed through-
out the year;
(b) increments granted to or pay raised in case of some of the vaccina-
tors or Native Superintendents of Vaccination and the consequent
higher rate of travelling allowance drawn by them ;
(c) the employment of a Hospital Assistant in charge of the Rangoon
vaccine depôt for about five months ; and
(d) the increase under contingent charges, such as purchase of more
calves and purchase, in case of some districts, of large quantities
of the vaccine paste from the Mandalay and Bangalore depôts.
Vaccination in Rangoon town.
7. The quantity and quality of vaccination done within the limits of the
Rangoon Municipality continues to be unsatisfactory.
Captain C. E. Williams, I.M.S., the Health Officer,
attributes this state of things to a number of causes, chief among which are—
(i) inadequacy of staff and of supervision and
(ii) the want of an efficient clerk.
The Municipal President in forwarding the report, remarks : " I think the
present Health Officer is not to blame however, and that he has tried to cope with
the defects he has found in his department."
Mandalay.
Moulmein.
Akyab.
Bassein.
8. Animal vaccination was carried on in the towns noted in the margin in ad-
dition to the depôts at Rangoon and Taunggyi, where
glycerinated lymph was prepared for issue to district
vaccinators. Animal vaccination might, with advant-
age, be worked in all headquarter Municipalities, a calf being vaccinated every
five or six days so as to keep up a continuous supply of lymph.
The quality of lymph throughout the year was not satisfactory.
At the Taunggyi depôt the outturn of paste manufactured sufficed for 53,799
operations. Lanoline, glycerine, and lano-glycerine were used in the manufacture.
The results obtained in the districts varied greatly, similar lymph cultures being
found very successful by some and quite inert by others ; generally, however, the
Taunggyi lymph was badly reported on by Civil Surgeons, a result attributed in
some instances to the length of time in transit and to the lymph having been kept
too long by the vaccinators before use. The lanolinized lymph appeared to retain
its activity longer than the glycerinated virus.