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90. In actual fact practically the only reports received by the Medical Officer of Health are (a) those from qualified medical practitioners, (b) from the medical officers of hospitals, and (c) from the medical officers in charge of the Public Mortuaries where bodies dumped in the street by friends or relatives of the deceased have been taken for inspection and disposal.
91. The Health Authorities, when they do discover a case of infectious disease, have no power to remove it to hospital unless the patient or his guardian consents or unless a magistrate makes an order for removal.
Non-notifiable Infectious Diseases.
92. Tuberculosis.-Pulmonary Tuberculosis ranks second to broncho-pneumonia as the principal cause of death. The total number of deaths was 1,983, that for 1930 being 1,994. The death rate per mille was 2.60 as compared with 2.62 for the previous year. Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the majority of cases is a chronic and debilitating disease which unfits the individual for the active exercise of his employment months or even years previous to his death. It is, therefore, most probable that the death figures form an incomplete index of the prevalence of the disease in the Colony as many, who would have died here had they remained, returned to their native villages in China there to end their lives among their friends and relatives.
93. It is estimated that for every death there are at least ten persons suffering from open tuberculosis. As it is the habit among the lower classes of Chinese to expectorate freely without taking precautions, this means that there were in the Colony during the year under discussion 20,000 living incubators of disease each adding his daily quota of microbes to the stock already existing. When it is realised that tuberculosis is more infectious and more deadly than leprosy the dangers of spread of infection become obvious.
94. There are no sanitoria and no infirmaries other than the Chinese Hospitals where poor tuberculosis patients could find shelter and treatment and where at least they would cease to be a danger to others.
95. During the year the Tung Wah Hospital which is situated in one of the most congested areas of Victoria provided 36 beds for the treatment of this disease.
96. It is hoped that when the new G.C.H. is built in the open on the sunny side of the island provision will be made for the accommodation of tuberculosis cases.
97. Leprosy.-Leprosy is a disease which is akin to tuberculosis but which is far less infectious and far less lethal. The number of lepers in the Colony is unknown but considering the
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90. In actual fact practically the only reports received by the Medical Officer of Health are (a) those from qualified medical practitioners, (8) from the medical officers of hospitals, and (c) from the medical officers in charge of the Public Mortuaries where bodies dumped in the street by friends or relatives of the deceased have been taken for inspection and disposal.
91. The Health Authorities, when they do discover a case of infectious disease, have no power to remove it to hospital unless the patient or his guardian consents or unless a magistrate
makes an order for removal.
Non-notifiable Infectious Diseases.
92. Tuberculosis.-Fulmonary Tuberculosis ranks second to broncho-pneumonia as the principal cause of dealth. The total number of deaths was 1,983, that for 1930 being 1,994. The death rate per mille was 2.60 as compared with 2.62 for the previous year. Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the majority of cases is a chronic and debilitating disease which unfits the individual for the active exercise of his employment months or even years previous to his death. It is, therefore, most probable that the death figures form an incomplete index of the prevalence of the disease in the Colony as many, who would have died here had they remained, returned to their native villages in China there to end their lives among their friends and relatives.
93. It is estimated that for every death there are at least ten persons suffering from open tuberculosis. As it is the habit among the lower classes of Chinese to expectorate freely without taking precautions, this means that there were in the Colony during the year under discussion 20,000 living incubators of dis- ease each adding his daily quota of microbes to the stock already existing. When it is realised that tuberculosis is more infectious and more deadly than leprosy the dangers of spread of infection become obvious.
94. There are no sanitoria and no infirmaries other than the Chinese Hospitals where poor tuberculosis patients could find shelter and treatment and where at least they would cease to be a danger to others,
95. During the year the Tung Wah Hospital which is situated in one of the most congested areas of Victoria provided 36 beds for the treatment of this disease.
96. It is hoped that when the new G.C.H. is built in the open on the sunny side of the island provision will be made for the accommodation of tuberculosis cases.
The
97. Leprosy.-Leprosy is a disease which is akin to tuber- culosis but which is far less infectious and far less lethal. number of lepers in the Colony is unknown but considering the
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