the seasonal variations of polio-virus excretor rates in Chinese children under five years of age. These surveys showed that polio-virus and other entero-viruses are distributed widely in the normal child population, the excretor rate being highest in the summer and declining gradually towards the end of the year. Types 1 and 3 polio-virus are the prevalent types and there is only a rough correlation between the excretor rate and the notification rate with a mean rate of 1,200 to 1. From clinical cases and their contacts a total of 1,060 specimens were examined amongst which 181 were positive for type I and 22 for type 3; no type 2 viruses were isolated.
388. Amongst other entero-viruses, Coxsackie viruses A9 and B3 were isolated as were ECHO types 2, 5, 6 and 8.
389. From time to time throat washings from suspected cases of influenza are investigated to ascertain the prevalent strain. There were two positive isolates obtained during the year which were antigenically kdentical with the A2/57 (A/Asian/57) strain supplied by World Health Organization.
Vaccine Production
390. The Vaccine Laboratory prepared and issued the following quantities of vaccines during the year.
Paccine
Smallpox
Rabies 2%
Rabies 4%
T.A.B. Adult
TA,B, Children Cholera
t
Prepared
54,404 mts. 45,076 28,362 22.850 32.450 3.590.100
Issued
19,766 mls. 44,200
21
29,930
11
44
49.250 67.100 1,762,180
***
ur
4
391. Pathologists at the Institute also carried out the autopsies at the Queen Mary Hospital and Kowloon Hospital, including medico- legal cases dying in these hospitals. During the year 421 such autopsies were performed.
392. Technicians from the Institute undertake the routine post- mortem examinations for plague in rodents sent to the Public Mortuaries by the pest Control Unit of the Urban Services Department. Amongst 69,161 rodents examined there was none found to be infected with plague.
393. During April and May 1961, the Intermediate Examinations of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology were held for the first time in Hong Kong. External examiners appointed by the Institute came out from London and 24 of the 25 student technicians, who had
92
been trained locally at the Government Institute of Pathology, were successful in the examinations.
THE PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE
394. The purchase of drugs, dressings and instruments and their dis- tribution to Government and, to a lesser degree. (o certain Government- assisted institutions, is the responsibility of the Pharmaceutical Service under the direction of the Chief Pharmacist.
395. The Central Medical Store is the headquarters of the Service and is located at North Point on Hong Kong Island. There is a branch store in Kowloon which acts as the distribution centre for Kowloon and the muinland part of the New Territories. During the year the Kowloon branch store moved into new premises which has provided considerably enhanced and more suitable accommodation. Manufacture in bulk of certain pharmaceuticals is undertaken at both these centres and fluids for parenteral administration are prepared at the North Point Head- quarters and at the Queen Mary Hospital.
396. The Chief Pharmacist, who is a member of the Pharmacy Board, has important responsibilities in connexion with the enforcement of the Ordinances dealing with dangerous drugs, pharmacy and poisons and the control of antibiotics. He has a staff of qualified pharmacists of whom two are occupied full-time on inspection duties. The inspection of premises, both manufacturing and retail, and of their records. is carried out regularly.
TABLE 36
WORK OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE 1960-61
Other sterile preparations
1960
Parenteral fluids prepared
116,000
1967 142,992 litres
120,475
142,612 items
Wholesale Poisons Licences issued
414
417
Authorized Sellers Licences issued
32
37
Listed Sellers Licences issued
$36
621
Antibiotic Permits issued
123
260
Licences for movement of Dangerous Drugs Premises inspected
395
1,625
2,778
Prosecutions initiated
25
25
THE ALMONER SERVICE
POI
397. The increasing amount of medical-social work necessary to the efficient functioning of the curative services is the responsibility of the Principal Almoner and a staff of 3 Senior Almoners and 53 Aimoners.
93