27TH JUNE 1895, No. 407, REVENUE.
The stock on hand on 31st March 1895 was as follows :-
Quinine
Febrifuge
LB.
4,984
1,946
the value of which, taking the same rates, will be Rs. 89,236 specified thus :-
RS.
Quinine
69,776
Febrifuge
19,460
Total
89,236
This large amount of quinine and febrifuge, now held in stock, is not to be
deplored, first because there are signs that the sales during the coming year will be
considerably in excess of those effected during the present year ; secondly, because if
any untoward circumstances should occur, such as a failure in the receipt of chemicals
(when the factory would have to be closed), the present stock would enable Govern
-ment to tide over the difficulty.
X.—Mr. HOOPER' S REPORT is appended.
X I . M I S C E L L A N E O U S — (a
) Issue of quinine powders to the Collectorates.—There has
been a falling off in the issue of these powders during the past year when compared
with the previous one ; but with this exception the issue has been greater than in any
other year since the scheme was first started in October 1890. The reason of this
falling off is probably due to the indents of some of the Collectors being larger in
1893-94 than their requirements ; ignoring, therefore, the large number of powders
indented for during 1893-94, there has been a slow but steady increase. It is not
possible yet to say how many powders have been actually sold, as only some of the
reports on this subject have been received.
(b) Issue of quinine powders to the Post offices in the Ganjám, Vizagapatam, Cud
- d a p a h , K u r n o o l , a n d M a l a b a r d i s t r i c t s . —N
o
powders have as yet been issued ; Gov
- e r n m e n t i n p a r a g r a p h 3 o f G . O . N o . 3 4 7 o f 2 8 t h A p r i l 1 8 9 3 , R e v e n u e , a d o p t i n g
the Director's proposal, originally ordered that the quinine should be put up in open
wrappers, similar to those distributed to Collectors ; and in accordance with this order
over one million two hundred thousand powders were so put up and made ready for
d e s p a t c h ; b u t u p o n r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s m a d e b y t h e P o s t m a s t e r - G e n e r a l t h a t i t w o u l d
be safer if the quinine was sent out in closed covers, Government in their G.Os.
No. 180 of 2nd March 1894, Revenue, No. 647 of 5th September 1894, Revenue,
and No. 4556 of 22nd November 1894, Revenue, cancelled this arrangement, and
ordered that the quinine should be put up in closed envelopes. Up to the end of the
year only 40,000 closed envelopes had been received from the Superintendent of the
Government Press. The cost of the envelope is much greater than that of the wrap
- p e r a n d t h e c o s t o f f i l l i n g i t i s m o r e t h a n d o u b l e t h a t o f f i l l i n g t h e w r a p p e r . I t i s
very doubtful, too, if the closed envelope is really any safeguard against dishonesty—
a damp cloth would dissolve the gum by which the envelope could be easily opened ;
or a minute puncture made by a needle at one corner of the envelope (which would
scarcely be visible to the naked eye) would be sufficient to enable a dishonest Post
- m a s t e r t o s h a k e t h e w h o l e o f t h e q u i n i n e o u t .
(c) Issue of quinine powders to the Burma Government.—The Chief Commis
- s i o n e r o f B u r m a a s k e d t h a t t h r e e c w t . o f q u i n i n e , m a d e u p i n t o f i v e g r a i n p o w d e r s ,
might be sent for distribution in that country ; but as no envelopes had been received
up to the end of the year, nothing could be done in the way of meeting this demand.
(d) Absence on leave of the Director.—The Director during his leave visited
Dr. King at Calcutta and Mr. Gammie, Superintendent of the Bengal Government
Cinchona Plantations at Mungpoo near Darjeeling, and from both of these gentlemen
much information and many useful hints on many matters connected with the cultiva
- t i o n o f c i n c h o n a a n d t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f q u i n i n e w e r e o b t a i n e d . I t i s h o p e d t h a t
Dr. King may be able to pay a visit to the Nilgiris during the present summer.