of the staff were required to give evidence in a number of court cases and were called out on many occasions to the scenes of crime.
75. As in previous year, narcotics seizures accounted for a high proportion of the work. Of particular significance was the increase in the number of cannabis (marihuana) seizures, and one seizure of approxi- mately two tons of raw opium.
76. The General Division was unable to meet all the demands made upon it by the various Government departments which require its services. Features of the work of this division during the year included a survey of artificial sweeteners in foods and the examination of a record number of adulterated liquors.
77. A number of additional appointments were made which resulted in an increased output towards the latter part of the year, and extra working space was being provided by the building of a small
extension.
MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY
(Tables 38-41)
78. The total number of examinations for the year under review exceeded that of the previous year by 222,426, indicating an increase of about 14.5%. The increase was mainly in the Histopathology, Bacteriology, Public Health and Chemical Pathology sections,
Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology
79. A total of 1,211 post-mortem examinations were carried out during the year, of which 510 had medico-legal implications. The brains of 38 dogs were examined for the presence of Negri bodies (indicating death from rabies) but no positive findings were obtained. Over 2,500 specimens of sputum, and pleural fluid and other specimens were received for cytological examination, of which 32 showed definite evidence of malignant disease. Over 23,000 biopsy specimens were examined in order to determine the histo-pathological diagnosis. Of these about 3,800 were benign or malignant tumours.
Haematology and Serology and Blood Bank
80. Slightly more than 323,000 haematology specimens were exam. ined. the most common examinations being haemoglobin estimations, total and differential white cell counts, blood slide examinations and
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blood grouping. Over 121,000 serology tests were performed, the most common being the V.D.R.L. foculation slide test for syphilis. In the blood banks 25,339 pints of blood were received during the year. 24,596 pints of which were from the blood collecting centres of the Hong Kong Red Cross Society. A total of over 172,000 examinations of blood were carried out in the blood banks.
Chemical Pathology
81. Some 331,000 specimens were examined, the most common being various quantitive examinations upon blood, which accounted for over 248,000 of the examinations.
Bacteriology
82. Over 535.000 bacteriological examinations were carried out. Samples of nightsoil, well water and imported food from endemic areas were routinely examined throughout the year for cholera vibrios. As a result of these tests the first isolate of Vibrio cholerac during the year from nightsoil specimens was confirmed on 14th May, 1969. The strain was identified as V. cholerae. El Tor biotype, Inaba. Since then in Hong Kong Island from 14th May, 1969 to 23rd July, 1969, 6,148 nightsoil specimens were tested. Among these there were 51 positive isolates, i.e. 0.83%.
83. There were no positive isolates in Kowloon and the New Territories until after the first confirmation of a clinical case of cholera in Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 5th July, 1969. Following this the number of routine nightsoil samples sent for bacteriological examination was stepped up in Kowloon. From 6th July, 1969 to 23rd July, 1969 a total of 1,398 nightsoil specimens were tested in the Kowloon Institute of Pathology. From these tests 3 positive isolates of El Tor vibrios were obtained, ie. 0.22%.
84. The isolation of non-cholera vibrios in nightsoil samples presented opportunities for further work on identification and typing. The use of nitrate blood agar and coagulated serum agar as selective media for the growth of these vibrios has been of value. The emergence of multiple drug resistant strains of Shigella organisms received further study. In the food section new tests were developed to comply with the health regulations of importing countries.
85. Apart from routine bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis, the tuberculosis laboratory was involved in anti-tuberculosis drug sensitivity
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