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Deficiency Diseases.
257. The only information available regarding deficiency diseases is furnished by the death returns and returns of diseases furnished by the Government Hospitals and Chinese Hospitals. The hospitals deal with only a small proportion of the sick and the whole truth regarding the incidence of disease among the masses cannot be deduced from their figures. The death returns also are misleading in that the majority of cases were not treated by competent physicians prior to death and the Medical Officer examining a body in the mortuary, had no history to assist him in coming to a conclusion as to the cause of death.
258. Beri-Beri.-Polished rice is the staple food of the masses yet beri-beri is not epidemic and the deaths from this disease formed only 2.43 per cent of the total deaths. The total number of deaths recorded was 483 and the death rate per mille population 0.59. The total number treated in the Government Hospitals for this disease was 39, those treated in the Chinese Hospitals numbered 1,416.
259. Rickets. No cases of rickets were admitted to either the Government or the Chinese Hospitals.
260. Scurvy.—No cases came to the notice of the Medical Authorities.
Measures taken to spread the knowledge of Hygiene and Sanitation.
261. The measures taken to spread the knowledge of Hygiene and Sanitation among the populace of Hong Kong have up to date been sporadic and patchy. Every year during 'health week' the Y.M.C.A. arranges for a series of lectures to be given. The St. John Ambulance Brigade from time to time spread the gospel concerning some particular subject. A number of the schools teach elementary bygiene. The Chinese Public Dispensaries arrange periodically for popular lectures to be given by their medical officers. The Schools' branch of the Medical Depart- ment have a small demonstration centre and the school medical officers and nurses give lectures and demonstrations. At the Infant Welfare Centre endeavours are made to instruct the mothers who attend.
262. Health instruction to serve any useful purpose must arouse and retain the interest of those for whom it is intended. With regard to the masses little of practical value can be accom- plished without the active assistance of the mothers of the lamilies, and the quickest and surest way of obtaining the con- fidence of the mothers is through health centres where free medical advice and treatment form the primary attraction and
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where the mothers make the acquaintance of tactful and sym. pathetic skilled nurses who also act as home visitors. The second best means of influencing the mother is through the school clinic where her children are medically examined by the doctor and school nurse and where opportunity is taken to add propaganda te advice.
the
263. At present the only Public Health Centres are Chinese Public Dispensaries and the Government Infant Welfare Centre in Wanchai, there are no public health nurses or health visitors.
With regard to school medical work there are only two medical officers and three nurses for nearly 70,000 school children.
Training of Sanitary Personnel.
264. The Medical Officers of Health hold classes and give lectures. Courses in chemistry, physics and sanitary engineering were held at the Technical Institute of the Education Depart- ment. It is hoped in the coming year to arrange for classes in Biology at the Bacteriological Institute and Mosquitology at the Malaria Bureau.
265. Hong Kong is an examining centre for the Royal Sani- tary Institute and every year examinations are held for the Sani tary Inspectors Certificate and the Sanitary Science Certificate. Candidates come from Shanghai to take these examinations The results of the last test were very satisfactory.
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