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the Indian organisms, and we can only conclude that the agglutinable strains of the Flexner group in Hong Kong do not conform to any of those identified in India. We are exchanging our cultures with Colonel Bridges in order that he may perhaps throw some further light on the subject.
(b) Typhoid: A study was commenced during the latter part of the year in order to get some idea of the titre of agglutinins against B. typhosus existing in the average hospital population in Hong Kong as measured by the serological reaction to the "O" and "H" antigens in use for the Widal test performed at the Institute. The cases chosen are patients attending the Venereal Diseases Clinics, who may reasonably be supposed to be free of active infection with the organism. So far as we have gone it appears that immune bodies, either natural or acquired, only exist in very small quantities in the sera of this group as measured by our antigens. The study will be continued in the coming year.
(5) General.-It becomes tedious year after year to record in this report continued increase in work performed, yet it is a fact which is assuming greater and greater import yearly, involving as it is bound to do questions of an administrative nature.
The summary of tests carried out this year shows a total figure of 39,134, as against 27,463 in 1935, an increase in a single year of over 40%. Careful scrutiny of the summary at the end of the report shows that the increase is not contributed by any single test but is generally distributed throughout the list, and reflects the all-round increased use which is being made of the diagnostic service of the Institute by the medical officers of the Department. Up to the present time this growth has been welcomed as a healthy sign and a reflection of good work, but it is felt that our machinery is becoming inadequate for any further load and a halt must be called in expansion. It is almost impossible to consider an increase in personnel, as there is no room for further workers in our present quarters. The only conclusion which can be reached is that either fresh quarters must be provided for the Institute or a halt called in the continued expansion of our activities. The latter course is most abhorrent to the writer but there seems practically no hope of any other solution.
Another point on which it seems necessary to comment is the cost of running the Institute. In spite of the enormous annual increase in the amount of work performed our annual estimates have been consistently curtailed for the past three years, so that even with the rigid economy practised it is felt that our work must be either curtailed or our allowance for materials increased. The reserve stocks now carried are at a danger point below which we simply cannot go.