4
C.
Staff.
20. On 2nd May, 1949 the Deputy Director of Medical Services Dr. G. E. Thomas, 0.3.E., went on leave prior to retirement which took effect on 12th January, 1950. Dr. Thomas bad been in the Department for 37 years and his retirement will leave a gap which it will be very difficult to fill. The Department suffered a further loss in the retirement on pension of Miss 1. N. Watkins, 0.8.E.. Principal Matron, after 23 years service.
21. Other officera who have left the Service are Dr, F. J. Farr, Senior Radiologist, and Dr. J. A. R. Selby, Senior Social Hygiene Officer. · Both these officers obtained permission to retire earlier than the normal retiring age and have gone to the United Kingdom where they propose to continue working. These officers could ill be spared but no doubt they will be welcome in their new sphere of activity. Dr. E. W. Hackett
who obtained a diploma in oto-laryngology while on leave in the United Kingdom was subsequently appointed Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist in Nigeria. In addition to these losses four of the more senior local doctors have resigned and gone into private practice. These gaps among the more senior medical staff have thrown a great strain on the younger and less experienced doctors who find themselves in charge of large institutions and important sub-departments with insufficient experience to help them. Recruitment both locally and from the United Kingdom has been exceedingly poor during the year in spite of the recent salaries revision, and the work of the department would have come almost to a standstill had it not been for the large number of refugee doctors who have come to the rescue.
22. It seems likely that the department, which depends to a large extent on the medical staff available, will encounter more difficulties in the future unless the emoluments and conditions of service are improved sufficiently for the Medical Department to compete on more level terms with the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.
23. Annexure C shows the establishment of the department as it was on March 31st, 1960.
D. Legislation.
24. The following legislation affecting public health was enacted during the year 1949-50.
The Medical Registration Amendment Ordinance, No. 12
of 1949,
The Public Health (Sanitation) Amendment Ordinance, No.
23 of 1049.
The Registrar General of Births and Deaths (Change of
Style) Ordinance No. 26 of 1949.
The Registration of Dentists (Amendment) Ordinance No.
35 of 1949,
A.176 The Penicillin (and other Substances) (Amendment)
Regulations, 1949,
A.186 The Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, 1984,
-Amendment to the First Schedule.
A.187 The New Territories Regulations Ordinance, 1910
New Territories (Conservancy) Rules 1949. A.188 New Territories Regulations Ordinance, 1910-
Amendment of rules.
A.190 New Territories Regulations Ordinance, 1910–Rules. A.193 The Nurses Registration (Amendment) Regulations,
1949.
A.214 The Births Registration (Special Registers) Ordin-
ance, 1947-New First Schedule.
A.215 The Deaths Registration (Special Registers) Ordin-
ance, 1947-New First Schedule.
A.226 The Public Health (Food) Ordinance, 1935-New
by laws.
A.237 Coroner's Abolition Ordinance, 1888-The Places
for Post Mortem Order, 1949.
A.260 The Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, 1935-
By-laws for Swimming Poola,
The Dogs and Cats Ordinance, No. 1 of 1950. A.10 The Dogs and Cats Regulations, 1950. A.34 The Dogs and Cats (Amendment) Order, 1950. A.39 The Places for Post Mortem (Amendment) Order,
1950.
II-PUBLIC HEALTH.
General Remarks.
25. Once again the general health of the Colony was good. There were no major epidemics although during the winter there was rather more diphtheria than is usual.
26. No nutritional surveys were carried out during the year but the standard of nutrition remained good and the deaths attributable to nutritional diseases or deficiences again reached a low record.