M 60
OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT.
Native treatment (new and old cases),
Western
...
115,020
...
18,002
It will be seen that of the total (133,022) 86.4% received Eastern and 13.6% Western remedies. This compares with 86.6% and 13.4% in 1915. This ratio appears to be almost constant and rarely shows marked variation from year to year.
While doubtless there is scope for improvement, the fact that the Eastern sees and re-prescribes for the same patient daily whereas the Western physician frequently instructs the patient to return at intervals of three to seven days, will always tend to show a large apparent advantage numerically to the former.
REMARKS ON SPECIAL DISEASES.
Beri-beri.--In all 706 cases were treated with 267 deaths, i.e., 37.8%. In 1915 there were 685 cases with 28.1% mortality.
This disease still heads the list as the most important numerically. During the year 22 cases of beri-beri were under special observation. These men were picked cases in the following respects:-
(1) They did not show organic lesions other than those of beri-beri.
(2) Their condition on admission was not that of collapse.
(3) They were young (20 to 35 years) and moderately well nourished.
Various therapeutic methods were adopted and the patients were detained in hospital for a period averaging about five weeks. They were then discharged to their native places and re-examined after one month.
The results were good as there were no deaths, about 90% of the patients returned to their work and only about 10% were still unfit to earn their living. About 25% appeared to be completely cured and did not show any results of the disease.
Kidney Diseases.-360 cases were under treatment as against 169 in 1915.
It is interesting to note that some of the most common causes of chronic nephritis among Western nations, e.g., scarlatina and excessive consumption of alcohol or meat cannot be held responsible to any large extent among Cantonese. Scarlatina for practical purposes does not occur among the coolie class, from which most of the hospital patients come, and excess in meat or alcohol is rare.