AnnualReport-1923

M(1)27

Venereal diseases :-

The following tables are of interest :—

1923 1922 1921 Syphilis 585 351 255 Gonorrhoea 76 61 12

Two points are of course outstanding.

(1) The steady increase of these diseases.

It has been suggested with a good deal of apparent probability that the increase in these diseases is due to keener patients and better diagnostic methods.

On the other hand it is very improbable that venereal disease should not increase as all other diseases have to a great extent in accordance with the general increase of the population. Venereal prophylaxis is almost unknown among Chinese and that prolonged adherence to treatment when all active signs of disease are past, which is so necessary to true cure, is most infrequent.

I think that there is some foundation for this and my main reason for this belief in the Tang Wa Hospital is that 75% of the patients suffering from syphilis desire Western treatment as compared with 54% which is the total number of all patients desiring western treatment.

(2) The comparatively small number of gonorrhoea cases as compared with that of those suffering from syphilis is noteworthy. It is, I believe, merely a result of the fact that a great number of gonorrhoea patients regard the simpler manifestations of the disease as of small importance and do not come for treatment.

In making inquiries about venereal history a patient who has emphatically denied infection will often quite freely admit such involvement when asked if he had a slight attack. It is of course a commonplace among European patients to hear that a mild attack of syphilis has occurred.

Epidemic diseases have been very small in number namely:

1923 1922 Cerebro-spinal meningitis ... 34 22 Plague 17 464 247 Influenza 505

Small-pox is not included in this list as the disease is only treated as an emergency measure and all patients who are fit for transport are immediately transferred to the Hospital at Kennedy Town.

The Eye Department.-Dr. Harston was in charge during the year and 4436 patients attended and 113 operations were performed.