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ANNEXURE O.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT PATHOLOGIST 1948. (1) Introductory,
This report deals with the activities of the Institute in Hong Kong, the branch in Kowloon, and the Queen Mary Laboratory. Throughout the year equipment, supplies, and technical books continued to arrive, making routine work easier to perform and enabling progress to be made in many directions.
Bewiring of the Institute and overhaul of all electrical installations were commenced in May and completed by the end of the year, when all the necessary fittings became available; in June the Gardens Department instituted regular attention to grass plota, ahrubs, and surroundings; and by the end of March 1949 the buildings were renovated and painted throughout, with remarkable effect.
At the Queen Mary Hospital, the laboratory was moved into new quarters towards the end of the year and although somewhat cramped for space is serving the needs of the hospital well under the part-time direction of Dr. K. T. Luke,
The Kowloon branch continued to function with Dr. R. E. Alvares in charge, and has proved a most useful focus for Kowloon, both as regards routine laboratory examinations and as a centre for the distribution of vaccines. Repainting was carried out in the spring of 1949.
By arrangement with the Agriculture Department part of the animals housed in unsatisfactory quarters in the Institute, comprising rabbits, sheep, guinea pigs and mice, were removed to a far more suitable location in the New Territories for breeding and stock purposes.
Analysis of the nightsoil held in the so-called maturation tanks at Castle Peak revealed that the extremely high concentration of ova constantly present in this material showed little change after a month in the tanks, Clonorchis and Ascaris being especially prevalent and Ankylostoma proving to be demonstrably viable. Bacteriological findings for pathogenic organisms were negative. but are still under investigation.
Revenue for the period under review exceeded estimated revenne by $33,000.
The following were the more important auditions to the library:-
Gynaecological & Obstetrical Pathology-Novak. Disorders of the blood-Whitley & Britten.
Inndbook of Practical Bacteriology-Mackie & McCartney. Forensic Medicine-Keith Simpson,
Medical Jurisprudence & Toxicology-Glaister.
Pathology of Tumours-Willis.
Textbook of Clinical Pathology-Parker.
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Staff Changes--Dr. K. T. Loke was confirmed in the post of Pathologist during the year. New appointments included Messrs. Shum Hay, laboratory assistant, Ko Jak Wai, attendant, Fong Kam, watchman, and Chau Ho, coolie. There were two resigna- tions-Poon Ting Kam, attendant, and Lee Sık, coolie.
(2)
NB-The figures in the following tables include those of the Kowloon and the Queen Mary Hospital branches. Allocation of the work performed is shown separately in the Summary at the end of this report.
Protozoology and Helminthology.
2. Blood films for malaria-Fire thousand and fifty-five films were examined for the parasites of malaria. Classification of types fonad and negative findings are shown in the table.
TABLE I
Blood Examined for Malaria,
Chinese
Non- Chinese
*Total
Sub-terlian
286
3
260
Benign-tertian
324
20
344
Quartan
152
152
Unclassifed (Type undetermined')
28
28
17
17
4.037
218
4.245
Multiple infection
Negative
Grand Total
4,814
241
5.055
3. Filari-Microfilarial parasites were found in five cases,
4. Autbrax-Infection with B. anthracia wus established in 19 instances of blood films taken from sick nuimals.
6. Facces-Ten thousand six hundred and eleven atool specimens were examined for parasites, ove, or cytological picture. Using concentration methods on bulk specimens from night soil tanks, it would appear that infection with Clonorchis is almost as common aa Ascariasis in this areu.