20 6TH JULY 1894, Nos. 481, 481A, 481B, 481C, REVENUE.
Chief Commissioner of Burma has now expressed a wish to place a cheap supply
of the drug at the disposal of the Burma public, and arrangements are being made to
carry this into effect.
4. The following statement shows the quantities of bark, quinine and febrifuge
in stock at the beginning of the year, the additions made to the same by the harvest
-ing of fresh bark and the manufacture of quinine and febrifuge during the year, the
quantities disposed of during the same period, and the balance on hand at its close:-
—
In stock at
the beginning
of 1893-94.
Additions
made during
1893-94.
Total.
Disposed
of during
1893-94.
Bal ance.
LB.
LB.
LB.
LB.
LB.
Bark
362,349
83,467
445,816
177,672
268,144
Sulphate of quinine
4,382
2,000
6,382
2,536
3,846
Febrifuge
1,886
5,775
7,661
3,514
4,147
5. The above figures indicate that the stocks on hand are sufficient to meet all
probable demands in the immediate future, but it is hoped that, as the value of the
drug becomes better known to the rural population, the sales will show a consider
- a b l e i n c r e a s e . T h e q u i n i n e a n d f e b r i f u g e h a v e b e e n m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o r e t a i l t r a d e r s ,
such as chemists and druggists, and to the public generally at cheap rates, but this
concession was only made in November 1891 and may not yet be widely known,
although steps have been taken to advertise the fact both in the official gazettes and
in the public journals. These advertisements should be persevered with, and the
Director should endeavour in the current year to make the receipts cover the expendi
- t u r e . I t i s o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t C i n c h o n a P l a n t a t i o n a n d F a c t o r y i n B e n g a l
are being worked so as to show a small profit on the operations of each year, and His
Excellency the Governor in Council considers that the same results should be obtain
-able in Madras.
6. The number of quinine powders indented for by Collectors, during the year
under review, was nearly double the corresponding number for 1892-93. With the
approval of the Government of India, sanction has been accorded for the introduction,
as an experimental measure, in five of the districts of the Presidency, of the scheme
referred to in the last year's review, for the sale of quinine packets through the agency
of Post offices. It is intended to extend this scheme to other districts, if the present
experiment is successful. A set of rules for the guidance of the Postal authorities has
already been drafted by the Postmaster-General and approved by the Government,
and covers of a new pattern for packing quinine are now being manufactured at the
Government Press, Madras. The main object of the issue of these packets being the
popularizing of the use of the drug among the poorer classes, it is proposed to sell
these packets at a rate as nearly as possible equivalent to the cost price.
(True Extract.)
(Signed) E. GIBSON,
Ag. Secretary to Government.
To the Government Botanist.
„ the Commissioners of Land Revenue.
„ the Commissioner of Salt, Abkári and Separate Revenue.
„ the Commissioner of Revenue Settlement, Land Records and Agriculture.
„ the Military Department.
„ the Public Department.
„ the Financial Department.
„ the Educational Department
„ the Surgeon-General.
„ the Accountant-General.
„ the Postmaster-General.
,, the Resident in Travancore and Cochin, for information and communication
to the Circars concerned?
Copy to the Honorary Secretary, Agri-Horticultural Society.
„ „ Chamber of Commerce.