FOR THE YEAR 1923-24.
3
one showing an increase this year, i.e., 127 operations more than were
done last year. In the Rangoon Division, Hanthawaddy shows good
work with an increase of 1,553. Of the Pegu Division, with the
exception of Toungoo District, all districts show an increase in
primary vaccination; the fall in Toungoo District amounted to 2,041
operations and this is reported to have been due to several changes
amongst the vaccination staff owing to illness. The appointments of
District Vaccinators in Pyu (B) and Railway Towns Circles had to be
left vacant for two and one months respectively for this reason. In
spite of this, Pegu Division as a whole has a net increase of 1,873
primary operations over its previous year's work.
Upper Burma Diviions and districts have all done well, with
the exception of Magwe and Upper Chindwin. In Mandalay Division,
every district shows a marked increase with the exception of Magwe,
which gives a decrease of 2,132 primary vaccinations. The remaining
six districts of this division contribute a total increase of 7,064, Yamèthin
heading the list with an increase of 2,453, Mandalay following next
with an increase of 1,507. The return under the head of successful
primary vaccinations for Magwe District last year was 20,213, while
this year it was 18,081,—the highest actual figure in this division.
Considering the total out-turn of work for the last two years in Magwe
District, the current year's decrease may be regarded as a natural
consequence;—moreover, on the outbreak of small-pox this year in
this district, re-vaccination was vigorously carried out, resulting in an
increase of 1,216 over its last year's figures, and providing the highest
return for this division, viz., 5,893. In the North-West Border Division
the only two districts which show a decrease are Upper Chindwin
( — 2,012) and Katha ( — 421); all other districts having returned
increased figures, thus effecting a net increase for the division as a
whole. The North-East Frontier Division has returned an excess of
9,236 primary operations over the figure for last year. The main
contributors were the Northern Shan States (+4,083) and Southern
Shan States (+ 4,775),—Myitkyina being the only district in this
Division to show a decrease with 307 fewer operations. The Civil
Surgeon, in explanation of this, states that two large tracts of hill
country were completely protected in 1922-23 by locally trained
vaccinators, who consequently had comparatively little to do this year.
Statt. I.
4. Re-vaccinations.—Altogether 12 districts in Lower Burma and
14 districts in Upper Burma show an increased outturn in re-vaccination,
and 10 districts in Lower Burma and 5 in Upper Burma return a
decrease,—the sum total of the increase being 22,785 and of the
decrease being 18,823, leaving a net increase for the Province of 3,962
under this head. Arakan Division was mainly responsible for the
decrease, all districts having returned smaller figures than in the
previous year, making a total deficit of 12,654; but in 1922-23 this
division reported 43,024 primary and 18,845 re-vaccinations, and the
current year's corresponding figures are 33,530 and 6,191 respectively.
Reviewing the total output of work for the two years together it may
be noted that during the current year the whole division has been
practically free from any outbreak of small-pox, so it is only natural that
the present figures should be lower than those for last year. Rangoon
town has been visited this year by a very virulent type of small-pox