FOR THE YEARS 1920-21 TO 1922-23.
7
with that at Yamèthin came to an end in 1921-22. Out of the 905
prosecutions instituted in Mandalay town under the Vaccination Act
in 1922-23 only 12 cases were fined, the total amount realized by fines
having been Rs. 12. This is disappointing and it is obvious that such
small fines can have no deterrent effect. The Civil Surgeon reports
that the attitude of the people in the rural areas is more favourable
to vaccination and that they appreciate its benefits.
In Maymyo town the protection of the population against small-
pox is stated to be very good. Myingyan, Magwe and Minbu all
showed an increase in primary as well as revaccinations, the result of
epidemic small-pox. The epidemic was prolonged by the action of
inoculators who were very active. In Minzu and Letkokpin villages
(Magwe district) 150 and 131 cases respectively were inoculated by
Burmese Sayas and similar occurrences have been reported by the
Civil Surgeons of Myingyan and Minbu, but no action was possible
against them as the Act of 1908 has not yet been extended to these
districts. The Deputy Commissioner, Myingyan, believes, contrary
to the opinion of his predecessor, that Township Officers are evincing
considerable interest in vaccination. He says that several headmen
in Pagan township approached him with the request that vaccinators
might be sent as their villages had not been visited for several years.
The system of concentrated work continued in force in Meiktila
and Myingvan districts, but the results have not been satisfactory.
Myingyan reverted in January 1923 to the old system of each
Vaccinator touring in his own township. There was no small-pox
stimulus in Kyauksè district where revaccinations were few but primary
vaccinations more than in the preceding year. Vaccination here is
reported to be popular and the Vaccinators well known and liked by
the people. The progress of vaccination in Meiktila district has
been retarded by the activity of Wunthanu Associations with the
result that there has been a slight fall in primary vaccination and a
heavy decline (from 2,377 to 516) in revaccination. The prevalence
of plague and the absence of small-pox were also contributory causes
to the decline. Both the Civil Surgeon and the Deputy Commissioner
strongly urge the introduction of compulsory vaccination in this district.
North-East Frontier Division —There was in the triennium an
increase of 20,689 primary operations and a decrease of 1,424 revacci-
nations. The increase was noticeable in all districts and the decrease
in Myitkyina. As compared with the preceding year the Southern Shan
States recorded in 1922-23 an increase both in primary and revacci-
nations, while in Bhamo the increase was in primary operations, revacci-
nation having fallen by 470. Other districts returned a decrease in
both kinds of operations. In Putao only Military Police and Govern-
ment servants in Civil employ were vaccinated, the measure still
being of too recent introduction to overcome the natural prejudice
of these primitive people. The Deputy Commissioner remarks that
if the three Vaccinators for whom provision has been budgetted be
sanctioned it will be possible to get most of the Shans protected. In
Myitkyina, Indians, Burmans and even Hill Kachins are said to
appreciate the measure and the only difficulty is to get lymph in good
condition to the more remote villages. Two large Hill Tracts in this dis-
trict were completely protected in 1922 by locally trained Vaccinators.