Brigade in connexion with the storage of dangerous goods. Gas-free certificates for ships bunkers were issued to the Dockyards and the Marine Department. The analysis of food samples submitted by the Urban Services Department continued throughout the year.
419. The number of biochemical samples examined increased con- siderably. They came mainly, as before, from the Government Hospitals and Clinics.
420. Table 33 indicates the categories of analyses performed during the year 1958.
TABLE 31
Water and waterworks chemicals Food and Drugs
Forensic analyses
Commercial
**
די
Miscellaneous, from Government Departments Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Dutiable Commodities Ordin- ance, Importation/Exportation (Prohibition) (Specified Articles) Order
Biochemical
Cerebro-Spinal Fluid
Blood
Gastric Contents
Stool
Urioc
Miscellaneous
ի
Per
598
186
1156
627
1,641
16,163
+
1,002
3,238
35
249
20.5
37,231
parenteral fluids, equivalent to 165,780 standard Medical Research Council bottles, was manufactured during the year, the major part of which was used by Government units. The balance was issued to the Tung Wah Hospitals. In addition 80,172 miscellaneous sterile prepara- tions were made up. These included a wide range of injections, eye ointments, burn dressings, bone wax, cye drops and various other items used in large amounts both in hospitals and out-patient clinics.
423. The Central Medical Store handles large quantities of surgical instruments, specialized medical equipment for diagnostic and clinical use, anaesthetic apparatus and medical gases.
424. The Chief Pharmacist has important duties in connexion with the enforcement of the Dangerous Drugs, Pharmacy and Poisons and Penicillin Ordinances. These include the inspection of premises used both for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and for the retail trade, the supervision of the import of dangerous drugs and the records of their distribution and sak. A much more satisfactory level of inspections was achieved during the year.
425. The addition of barbitone, pheno-barbitone and their salts to the Schedule of Dangerous Drugs entailed a great deal of preliminary detailed investigation and preparation. The efficient and unostentatious way in which this important work was carried through by the Chief Pharmacist and his senior staff resulted in a most effective control being imposed without any significant diminution in the stocks known to be in the Colony at that time. The co-operation of the importers and distributors materially contributed to the success of the operation.
426. Table 34 sets out the work done in connexion with the various ordinances controlling poisons, dangerous drugs and antibiotics.
(Kidney and Gallbladder stones etc.)
Total
THE PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE
421. The Chief Pharmacist is assisted by a staff of seven Pharmacists. seven Dispensary Supervisors and sixty-four Dispensers; in addition there were twenty-five Student Dispensers under training. The Central Medical Store is at North Point on Hong Kong Island. There is a branch store in Kowloon, which is the distribution centre for the smaller institutions in Kowloon and the New Territories. The North Point and Kowloon Stores maintain manufacturing units which supply pharma- ceutical preparations in bulk, usually in concentrated form, to the many clinics and other institutions throughout the Colony.
422. Parenteral fluids are manufactured in bulk at the Central Medical Store and at the Queen Mary Hospital, which has the most modern pharmacy in the Colony. A total volume of 82.890 litres of
*4
TABLE 14
LICENCES AND PERMITS ISSUED
1937
7958
Wholesale Poisons' Licences
335
344
Authorized Sellers' Licences
26
29
Listed Sellers' Licences (i.e. for Part 11 Poisons only) 242 Anti-biotic Permits
251
227
209
Licences issued in connexion with the movement of
Dangerous Drugs
246
233
Premises inspected
513
986
THE ALMONER SERVICE
427. The Principal Almoner, who is responsible for the medical social service, was assisted by a staff of thirty Almoners and Assistant
85