M 184
Tuberculosis: The number of pulmonary tuberculosis cases is very high.
Other diseases of the Respiratory System show a large number of cases of both acute and chronic bronchitis.
Opium Addicts.
In-patients:- Number of cases admitted to the University Medical Clinic from January to the end of December 1935 was 37.
Duration of Treatment:-
Less than 5 days 1 case
5 to 20 days 33 cases
Over 20 days 2
Average number of days in Hospital... 13 (approx.)
Longest duration in Hospital 24 days
Shortest duration in Hospital 1 day
Method of Treatment:- As in previous years the method of complete and instant withdrawal of opium has been followed. This has been possible because the cases admitted are not of a severe type - almost without exception our patients have been young men who have developed a moderate degree of addiction as a result of commencing the smoking habit "for amusement." They were smokers of what they call "smuggled opium" and not "dross." The average daily cost is about one H.K. dollar a day. These addicts applied for admission with a view to cure as economic conditions render the purchase of opium difficult.
As an adjunct the Modinos method of treatment by means of vesicatory serum has been used. The efficacy of the latter method is extremely difficult to assess. I am extremely doubtful that any real immunity to drug addiction as claimed by Modinos is ever developed.
Result of Treatment:—
Relieved 35 cases
Unchanged 1 case
Under treatment 1
42 opium addicts attended at the outpatient department for treatment. These cases refused to enter hospital. Outpatient treatment of addiction can never be successful.
No cases have returned for re-admission. There is no follow-up system in Hong Kong and as a result there are no reliable figures of relapses.