4
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1908-09.
M.D., I.M.S., until December 1908, and subsequently by Captain J. Good, I.M.S.,
to the end of the year. The perfection to which the manufacture of the vaccine
has been brought during his incumbency of the post is the best testimony to the
devotion, skill and inventive genius displayed during several years by the late
Superintendent, Major Entrican, and it is with much regret that I have to record
the loss by this Department of his services owing to his being compelled by ill
health to take leave. The present incumbent, Captain Good, has carried on the
work with the greatest zeal, since he assumed office, and merits my thanks for
his services.
10. The Rangoon Municipal Vaccine Depôt.— Work was as in former years
carried out at the vaccination station at the Municipal Office. In spite of unfavour-
able surroundings, which have been considered responsible for unsatisfactory results
obtained from the vaccine prepared at this depôt in previous years, the lymph has
throughout the year been of excellent quality, and a percentage of 98.95 successes
was obtained in primary operations. The new vaccine depôt in Kandawgalay is said
to be ready now for occupation and work will be commenced there shortly. This
depôt was sanctioned by the Municipal Committee in March 1907, and there has
been much delay in carrying out the scheme.
Statement
II.
11. Cost of the Department.—The total expenditure on establishment, travel-
ling allowance and contingencies during the year 1908-09 was Rs. 1,49,847-3-4
against 1,38,604-7-4 in 1907-08. The increase in cost was due to (a) Establish-
ment, increase Rs. 9,395-4-1. (b) Travelling allowance, increase 4,785-5-9.
There was a decrease in the expenditure on contingencies of Rs. 2,937-13-10.
The total increase was therefore Rs. 11,242-12-0. The average cost of each
successful operation was Re. 0-7-5 against Re. 0-6-11 in the previous year. The
cost varied greatly in different districts being only Re. 0-2-3 in Sagaing, Re. 0-3-1
in Lower Chindwin, and Re. 0-3-9 in Katha. On the other hand, it was as high
as Rs. 2-12-4 in the Northern Shan States, Rs. 2-1-1 in Pyapôn, and Re. 0-14-6 in
Hanthawaddy. The high cost of vaccination in the Hanthawaddy and Pyapôn
Districts was due to the very poor work performed in those districts, in proportion
to the large staffs employed. The increase on establishment is explained by the
appointment of additional Native Superintendents for nine districts and of additional
permanent Vaccinators. These men were sanctioned from 1st of March 1908,
but were entertained during the year under review, and were employed during the
entire year, Six temporary vaccinators were employed for six months in Pakôkku
District.
12. Inoculation and attitude of the people. — Inoculation is still practised in
certain districts, especially in the Arakan Division, and in the Irrawaddy and Pegu
Divisions. It is precisely in those districts where vaccination is backward that the
people are most addicted to the practice of inoculation, and per contra, hostile to
vaccination. The districts of Akyab, Henzada, Pyapôn, and Ma-ubin are among
those in which least advance has been made of late years in popularising
vaccination. Hanthawaddy District is another stronghold of inoculation where the
progress of vaccination has halted for years past.
13. Legislation.—An act for the prevention of inoculation and the licensing
of Vaccinators became law during the year. Inoculation will hereafter be a
criminal offence in those districts to which the Act may be, from time to time,
applied. It has been arranged to apply the Act first to the Hanthawaddy and
Pegu Districts. An act for the improvement of vaccination in Rangoon Town
and port has recently received the approval of the Governor-General and
came into force on the 24th of May 1909. It provides for the compulsory vaccin-
ation of all persons coming to Burma to work as labourers, who are unprotected
from small-pox and gives additional powers to the Municipal Committee for vaccin-
ating the occupants of factories and lodging houses.
C. E. WILLIAMS, MAJOR, M.D., D.P.H., I.M.S.,
Superintendent-General of Vaccination, Burma.
RANGOON, 25th May 1909.