pharmaceuticals, dressings, surgical instruments and the production of medicinal preparations for use in the various institutions. The Chief Pharmacist also has certain legal responsibilities in connexion with the control of narcoties and dangerous drugs in the Colony. This sub-department also undertakes the training of local personnel in dispensing.
131. Careful supervision of the import and movements of dangerous drugs in the Colony continues to be maintained and routine inspections of all premises where poisons and antibiotica are handled are undertaken. The number of licences issued in respect of poisons and antibiotics continues to show a downward trend. Comparative figures for 1954 and 1955 are:-
Wholesale Dealers' Licences
Listed Sellers' Licences
Licences lasuel to Authorized Premises
(Pharmacies)
Anti-biotic Permits
»
Restricted Anti-biotic Permits
Premizes inspected
*
Physiotherapy.
1954 1955
429
คล
238
23
23
194
69
S0
1,092
1,159
183
132. This sub-department endeavours to teach patienta who are seriously crippled or handicapped by injury or disease how best to overcome their handicap and fit them to lead useful lives. The work is seriously handicapped itself by reasons of in- adequate premises and equipment and the volume of work requiring attention far exceeds the physical capacity of the existing staff.
183. Physiotherapy treatment is given in Queen Mary Hospital, Wanchai Polyclinic, Kowloon Hospital and Lai Chi Kok Hospital. The demands of these units vary and cannot be compared. Treatment of in-patients only is carried out at Queen Mary Hospital and the patients are transferred, on discharge, to Wanchai Polyclinic which deals with all the out-
44
patients on the Island. Patients from Sai Ying Pun Hospital, the Tung Wah Hospitals and the Mental Hospital are algo treated here as soon as they are fit to be moved. There are occasions when the physiotherapist has to visit these hospitals if the patients are not fit enough to come to the out-patient department. The Kowloon department deals with all patients on the Mainland. Cases treated in Lai Chi Kok Hospital are mainly orthopaedic and tuberculosis chest cases who have had major chest surgery. In addition the fever block with its poliomyelitis, tuberculous meningitis and tetanus cases calls for constant attention. A hydrotherapy tank which has recently been installed has assisted greatly in these cases.
134. There has been an increase in the number of cases of hemiplegias treated. These can usually be grouped into children, where 90% of the cases are a result of tuberculous meningitis, and adults. The majority of these cases are treated by hydrotherapy and re-education exercises. An adult class has been started at Wanchai Polyclinic in order to teach these patients how to become physically independent by such means as walking unaided, dressing and feeding themselves.
136. Classes for ante-natal exercises are held at Kowloon and are followed by routine post-natal exercises. These classes are given to the 1st and 2nd class patients only as the 3rd class patients consist mainly of working women who cannot attend the ante-natal classes, and because of the good condition of their muscles post-natal work is usually unnecessary.
Occupational Therapy.
136. This form of therapy is comparatively new in Hong Kong and the possibilities and advantages of it have as yet not been adequately recognized outside of the Mental Hospital where it has long been recognized as a most useful form of treatment. Facilities and space are as yet so limited as to make the work difficult and discouraging. Nevertheless, very gratifying results have been obtained. Occupational therapy was given to selected patients at the Queen Mary Hospital, Lai Chi Kok and the Mental Hospital.
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