11. Smallpox.-Every year in the cold season this disease manifests itself in outbreaks which are sometimes sporadic, sometimes epidemic. Whatever the prevalence there is always a tendency for the morbidity rate to decline or disappear with the advent of summer. In the year under review there were 23 cases and 16 deaths as compared with 61 and 44 respectively in 1935. 11 cases only were treated in hospital; the remainder did not come under the notice of the authorities until after death.
12. The vaccination campaign was continued and during the year 274,784 persons were vaccinated. Valuable assistance was afforded by the St. John Ambulance Brigade and by the Chinese Public Dispensaries. Both bodies engaged in active propaganda and through their efforts many were persuaded who otherwise would have kept aloof. The various sections of the Brigade again carried out street vaccination with excellent results.
13. The Chinese have a preference for vaccination being done in the spring, which they regard as the most auspicious season. For a month or two after Chinese New Year the Chinese Public Dispensaries are crowded with children waiting to be vaccinated.
14. Many Chinese still hold the opinion that the herbalist treatment of smallpox gives better results than the methods adopted by practitioners qualified in Western medicine. An analysis of the statistics of (a) the Tung Wah Infectious Diseases Hospital where only herbalist treatment is carried out and (b) the Government Infectious Diseases Hospital where western treatment only is provided shows that this view is not correct.
15. Plague. For the last seven years no cases of plague have been reported in Hong Kong. The disappearance of this disease not only from this Colony but from the greater part of China and its decline throughout the world are due to factors which are not understood.
16. Systematic rat-catching and periodical cleansing of houses were carried out throughout the year. The total number of rats collected was 212,947 of which 17,967 were taken alive, as compared with 192,251 and 21,820 in 1935. The number collected each year shows that there is no diminution in the rat population. All the rats collected were sent to the Public Mortuary for examination. None was found infected.
17. Cerebro-spinal Fever.-Altogether 123 cases were reported with 65 deaths. No special foci of infection were discovered and few instances where one could trace the source of infection. The cases were treated in the general hospitals without any instance of spread of infection. Sera manufactured at the Bacteriological Institute were used therapeutically.
18. Diphtheria.-With regard to diphtheria there is little to be said. The cases were sporadic and the sources of infection were seldom discovered. 375 cases were reported as compared with 266 in 1935.
11. Smallpox.-Every year in the cold season this disease manifests itself in outbreaks which are sometimes sporadic, sometimes epidemic. Whatever the prevalence there is always a tendency for the morbidity rate to decline or disappear with the advent of summer. In the year under review there were 23 cases and 16 deaths as compared with 61 and 44 respectively in 1935. 11 cases only were treated in hospital; the remainder did not come under the notice of the authorities until after death.
12. The vaccination campaign was continued and during the year 274,784 persons were vaccinated.. Valuable assistance was afforded by the St. John Ambulance Brigade and by the Chinese Public Dispensaries. Both bodies engaged in active propaganda and through their efforts many were persuaded who otherwise would have kept aloof. The various sections of the Brigade again carried out street vaccination with excellent results.
13. The Chinese have a preference for vaccination being done in the spring, which they regard as the most auspicious season. For a month or two after Chinese New Year the Chinese Public Dispensaries are crowded with children waiting to be vaccinated.
14. Many Chinese still hold the opinion that the herbalist treatment of smallpox gives better results than the methods adopted by practitioners qualified in Western medicine. An analysis of the statistics of (a) the Tung Wah Infectious Diseases Hospital where only herbalist treatment is carried out and (b) the Government Infectious Diseases Hospital where western treatment only is provided shows that this view is not correct.
15. Plague. For the last seven years no cases of plague have been reported in Hong Kong. The disappearance of this disease not only from this Colony but from the greater part of China and its decline throughout the world are due to factors which are not understood.
16. Systematic rat-catching and periodical cleansing of houses were carried out throughout the year. The total number of rats collected was 212,947 of which 17,967 were taken alive, as compared with 192,251 and 21,820 in 1935. The number collected each year shows that there is no diminution in the rat population. All the rats collected were sent to the Public Mortuary for examination. None was found infected.
17. Cerebro-spinal Fever.-Altogether 123 cases were re- ported with 65 deaths. No special foci of infection were discovered and few instances where one could trace the source of infection. The cases were treated in the general hospitals without any instance of spread of infection. Sera manufactured at the Bacteriological Institute were used therapeutically.
18. Diphtheria.-With regard to diphtheria there is little to be said. The cases were sporadic and the sources of infection were seldom discovered. 375 cases were reported as compared with 266 in 1935.
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