59
3. PREVALENT DISEASES. contid.
-
rapidly. For example, weekly figures for the female Social Hygiene clinic at Tsim Sha Tsui show that, while in the week ending 30th September there were only ten new cases, the average weekly attendance in November was almost four times the September figure. Most cases, however, are only seen at a later stage when inconvenient or painful symptoms occur. No charge whatever is made for treatment at V.D. clinics. The Civil Authorities have been handicapped in treating these cases by the shortage of drugs and, had it not been for the help of the Services, little or nothing could have been done. Col. ehily wants a first class specialist venereal disease officer and drugs; both of these he is trying to obtain urgently.
Other diseases seen are beri-beri, ulcers and various forms of anaemia. The ulcers are mostly associated with the long absence of medical facilities and with mal- nutrition; they are very prevalent. Anaemia is associated principally with malaria, malnutrition and helminthic infections. This anaemia should improve gradually with treatment for the associated conditions.
Feople in this Colony appreciate the benefits of Western medicine and come freely to dispensaries.
It is obvious that they trust those who are caring for them and, on the other hand, there is a reciprocal keenness, and often enthusiasm, on the part of the native staff at the various dispensaries. The U.K. recruited staff have the trust and confidence of those whom they are looking after, and all this goes a long way in the restoration of better conditions.
Comparatively little evidence of frank malnutrition is seen in the Colony but there is undoubtedly a high incidence of under-nutrition.
This is inevitable following conditions of occupation. The results are evident in the lowered capacity for work both of the clerical staffs and among coolies; the former get readily tired and are incapable of prolonged concentrated effort and the coolie class have only a limited capacity for physical work. However, with better conditions of feeding and happier conditions generally, these deficiencies are disappearing. Diets are becoming more balanced and many of the supplementary articles of food that make a meal attractive have come back. The main shortage is of good fats. Soya bean, with its high fat and protein content, is not unpopular in South China but it has not got the same vogue as in Northern China, although a good deal of bean curd is consumed. Lt.Col. Wilkinson, the Medical officer in charge of Kowloon, is at present conducting a nutritional survey among certain selected groups of the population, mainly Government employees. There are
428781
P-