2
RESOLUTION ON THE TRIENNIAL REPORT ON VACCINATION
results claimed are now reported to be more in accordance with general experience
is perhaps a sign that the returns are beginning to represent the reality with some
degree of accuracy. Thoroughly satisfactory and trustworthy returns can only be
obtained by means of the employment of skilled and trustworthy operators and
by careful supervision and constant inspection by an efficient agency. This
result, it is hoped, may be attained as a result of the complete reorganization
scheme for Native Superintendents and Vaccinators which has recently been sub-
mitted for the approval of the Government of India. His Honour observes that the
average amount of work performed by each vaccinator during the three years
under review has fallen considerably short of the 2,000 primary operations which
were stated by Colonel Little in the Report for the years 1899-00 to 1901-02
to represent a fair year's work for a single operator. It is possible that Colonel
Little's estimate was too high, but the point is one which should receive attention.
4. The Lieutenant-Governor concurs generally in the remarks contained in
the Report on the subject of inoculation. Before inoculation can be prohibited it
is necessary that vaccination throughout the Province should be improved. Sir
Herbert White believes that the opinion expressed by Colonel Macrae is correct,
and that there is little or no feeling of active resistance towards vaccination in
Burma. He believes that if vaccination is properly performed with good lymph,
so that the operation is generally successful, the mass of the people have no
objection to it. Successful vaccination will bring about its own appreciation and
the inoculator will then be in less demand. In Rangoon, where the attitude of
the people is said to be hostile, the population is mainly Indian and the conditions
are different from those prevailing in the remainder of the Province. The Super-
intendent-General of Vaccination is requested to consider whether the alleged
hostility of the people of Rangoon towards vaccination may not be due to defects
in the system which it may be possible to remedy.
5. The results of the working of the vaccine depôt at Meiktila have so far
proved somewhat disappointing, but His Honour is glad to learn that the present
Superintendent, Major Entrican, takes special interest in the working of the depôt
and that there has been an improvement. He trusts that the efforts to make the
depôt a thoroughly efficient source of supply of lymph will not be relaxed and that
they will be successful.
6. The Lieutenant-Governor has read with interest the remarks in paragraph
9 of the Report as to the possible expediency of limiting the performance of vac-
cination to certain seasons of the year. His Honour is aware that Colonel Macrae,
who has only recently taken charge, has this question under consideration. It is
hardly necessary to say that a comparatively small number of operations success-
fully performed and ensuring immunity is likely to do more to secure the popularity
of vaccination than a large number performed ignorantly and inefficiently. The per-
formance of vaccination under adverse climatic conditions seems to be undesirable
and to be likely to bring vaccination into discredit. The Lieutenant-Governor will
cordially support any proposals for reform in this respect or in other matters
in which experience shews improvement to be attainable. His Honour is sanguine
of the results of the improvement of the personnel of the operating and supervising
staff if the work is performed on sound and scientific lines.
7. Although the attention of Subordinate Magistrates and Executive Officers
was again, in the year 1903, called to the importance of the exercise of their per-
sonal influence and authority in support of vaccination, His Honour is not satis-
fied that sufficient regard is paid to these orders. He desires Commissioners and
Deputy Commissioners to impress on Subdivisional and Township Officers that it
is their duty, in the course of their tours, to take every opportunity of explaining
to the people the uses and advantages of vaccination and the dangers of inocula-
tion. These officers are constantly among the people ; and if they are themselves
in sympathy with the vaccination system, the extent to which they can promote
its acceptance by the people is incalculable. His Honour commends this matter
to the earnest attention of all officers concerned.