M(1)26
(3) Some diseases are almost certainly prevalent among Chinese but are not considered to require hospital treatment by sufferers, e.g.:-
(1) Skin disease
(2) Measles
(3) Disease of the ear
(4) Gynaecological conditions
(5) Diseases of children.
(4) A certain number of diseases may be prevalent among Chinese but persons suffering from them do not come to hospital, because they are not ordinarily considered to be suitable for such treatment, e.g.---
(1) Typhoid
(2) Dengue (3) Goitre
(4) Hypertrophy of adenoids and tonsils.
It must be admitted that the returns from other institutions tend to confirm the results of this last (4) list but I have some lingering doubt that Chinese suffer but slightly from-say Typhoid and I believe the Public Mortuary returns to some extent bear this out.
Beri-beri accounted for 1145 admissions i.e. more than 10% of the total admissions. The deaths rate of 34% was 10% less than in 1922 when 846 patients were admitted with 44% death rate.
The disease appears to be increasing pari-passu with the increased population of the Colony and were it not for the free intercourse with neighbouring Chinese ports and the consequent replacement of labour it would probably cause much more comment for economic reasons than it does at present.
I have found that many patients admitted for other disease are also suffering from beri-beri and that many very transient attacks of the disease occur. In view of this I think the high figure given above (1145) is probably inaccurate and should be much higher.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis showed 847 admissions and after beri-beri was the most prevalent disease. 298 deaths took place but as the majority of the cases were in an advanced state this causes no surprise and is almost inevitable. As on previous occasions I would urge the necessity of suitable accommodation for patients who have contracted this disease. Neither the Tung Wa Hospital or Civil Hospital can for a moment be considered from any point of view as suitable for the treatment of this disease and year by year as the congestion becomes greater this unsuitability becomes more and more. It is doubtless out of place in a report of this nature to draw attention to non-therapeutic problems but the continued increase of beri-beri and phthisis with the population ever increasing in density does call for comment and action. There has been much comment in the past.