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loud speaker, cinema and the Chinese and English press. Penicillin and sulfadiazine lowered the mortality in cases treated to 10%.
(b) Cholera.
Cholera first put in an appearance early in January, but the outbreak did not attain serious dimensions until the hot weather set in in June. A total of 246 deaths was recorded out of a total of 514 cases, a mortality rate of 47.9 per centum. The mortality rates in the two hospitals where cholera was treated were 37.7 and 21 per centum respectively. Treatment with solutions of brilliant green (1-2,500) appeared to have a beneficial effect and reduced the carrier rate. Half an ounce every hour for eight doses was found to be the optimum dose. As in the case of smallpox, so with cholera, numerous inocula- tion stations were set up on both sides of the harbour and every encouragement was given to the general public to accept what protection cholera inoculation may afford.
All passeng- ers arriving from cholera-infected ports and all intending passengers from Hong Kong were also inoculated.
The last case of cholera was isolated on 26th September, and the Colony remained free from the disease for the remainder of the year.
(c) Typhus.
Typhus of the so-called "scrub" variety in which the vector is believed to be a mite carried by a rodent was reported on several occasions. There was no obvious connection with these cases which affected men in all classes of society. The mode of infection remained a mystery, although contact with rat-infested places was a factor in some of the patients. Dur- ing the year, 42 cases were reported with two deaths. The vector was not discovered.
(d) Enteric Fever.
The enteric group of diseases was more commonly diag- nosed, amounting to 221 cases with 115
with 115 deaths, a case mortality of 52 per centum.
(e) Cerebro-spinal Meningitis.
Cerebro-spinal meningitis was most prevalent in April and 293 cases were reported of which 85 or 29 per centum proved fatal.
(f) Diphtheria.
Diphtheria accounted for sixty-two deaths in 161 cases (38.5 per centum) and stimulated an active immunization campaign in schools. 3,452 children were protected with alum precipitated toxoid.
(g) Dysentery.
Dysentery, mostly of the bacillary type, was notified in 172 cases of whom 60 or 34.9 per centum proved fatal.
(h) Malaria.
Some 720 deaths took place in 2,422 cases of malaria, a rate of 29.7 per centum. In the majority of cases P. falciporum was the infecting parasite.
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