31
30
-
typhoid vaccines; the preparation of anti-meningococcus serum, and of the vaccine to prevent abortion in cows. The making of anti-rabic vaccine is also undertaken, and thirty-one persons were treated after having been bitten by dogs, although not all of the dogs were rabid. The examination of rat corpses to detect whether any of them were suffering from plague resulted in 73.245 dead rats being inspected but only two of these were found to be infected with plague.
IX. THE PUBLIC MORTUARIES,
--
יזיין
In Victoria.—3,973 post-mortem examinations were formed, and the results are given in detail in the appendix to this report. One of the points of interest is the comparison between the number of persons who are said to have died from tuberculosis of the lungs (195) and the number of those entered as having died From tuberculosis of the abdominal organs and other tissues (73). In recent years it has been suggested that tuberculosis, in children, at any rate, generally enters the body by way of the respiratory system, and that it is not common to find it affecting the organs in the abdomen, as a primary infection. Assuming this to be accurate so far as children are concerned it does not appear to hold good for all ages. Another item of interest is the small number of Only cases which are reported to have died from dysentery, eight deaths are ascribed to this cause for the year and nine for the year before. Although the precise kind of dysentery has not been indicated it is fairly certain that the amoebic form was that responsible for the great majority. But even so eight cases of dysentery in all but 4,000 deaths, is less than one would suppose. and it is a question which deserves further attention, not only as to the prevalence of dysentery, but the forms which occur here. Malignant growths are comparatively rarely seen. In 1921 seven are reported in 3,471 examinations and one case is reported among the 3,973 examinations in 1922. There is no reference to animal parasites as the cause of death. for neither the hookworm nor the bilharzia family appear to have been observed. The deaths stated to be due to enteric fevers also seem to be few. The work of the public mortuary in Victoria has always been a part of the duty of the Bacteriologist, but on account of shortage of staff it was necessary this year to depute a medical officer for this duty,
The Pubile Mortuary in Kowloon : Male bodies examined. ... Female bodies examined, Bodies of unknown sex,
1,277
779
11
2.007
The nationalities represented were Europeans 4. Chinese 2,055, Japanese 4, Indians 2. Negro 1, Filipino 1.
Disenses caused by infection,
་།
"
יי
י
Epitome of causes of death.
1922.
1921.
392
215
of the nervous system.
62
18
77
respiratory system,
806
541
་་
13
digestive system,...
2018
139
genitourinary system..........
23
13
.*
female organs,
188
127
---
Disorders of nutrition or metabolism....
12
52
51
12
69
37
2
238
158
13
Deaths from violence :—
() general injuries, (b) local
(r.) poisons
Too decomposed for diagnosis, Undiagnosed.
2.067
1,344
32.333 rats were examined and 19 were found to be infected with plague.
ment.
X.-The Chinese Milwires.
Seven midwives were employed as in previous years, and six pupils were being trained in midwivery at the expense of govern- In most of the districts these midwives are greatly appreciated and their services are sought after. A maternity hospital for Chinese containing about 60 beds was opened during the year and will prove to be a great benefit to the large number of Chinese women who seek for modern methods of treatment in childbirth. The hospital, although referred to in this report, is not a government institution, but is under the auspices of the Chinese themselves, the government, however, provides a lady doctor to supervise the work. In 1922 about 2,800 Chinese patients were attended during childbirth in the various institutions of the colony, in addition to those attended by the government midwives. This is not a great number compared with the popula- tion, but it is three times the number as compared with, say five years ago, and is only another sign of the growing faith in modern medicine which is being evinced by the Chinese,
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