'grand' multigravidae or to referred cases requiring specialist care. Cases not falling into these categories were referred to maternity homes or hospitals dealing with normal cases. The 'non-booked' cases admitted were suffering from complications of pregnancy or of labour and were referred by practising midwives, private practitioners, the Tung Wab group of hospitals and the Government midwifery service.
285. With the great rise in the number of births in the Colony during the last ten years and the greatly improved facilities in this specialized hospital, the proportion of operative deliveries has shown a marked increase. As can be seen from Table 36 this has resulted in a lowering of the still-birth and neo-natal mortality rates; the rise in the maternal mortality rate during 1959 does not reflect increased post- operative risks as five of the six deaths recorded were due to medical conditions complicating pregnancy,
TABLE 26
WORK OF THE TSAN YUK HOSPITAL 1950/59
Hospital beds
Total number of admissions
Total number of deliveries
Still-birth rate (per 1.000 total births)
Neo-natal mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) Maternal mortality rate (per 1.000 Total births) Percentage operative deliveries
1950
1959
85
200
5,380
8.196
5,033
7.440
23.20
13.97
17.31
14.31
0.39
0.80
2.73
14.12
286. In addition to a hospital laboratory for routine clinical patho- logy investigations, there is a research laboratory which is staffed by members of the University of Hong Kong. Projects undertaken by the latter during the year were studies of blood groups in multiple preg- nancies, serological factors in cases of still-birth and hydrops foctalis. haematological values in primipara and multipara, and serum protein changes in pregnancy.
Mental Hospital
287. During February 1960 a further block containing 120 beds was completed at the new Castle Peak Hospital with the result thai, at the end of March 1960, 230 patients were accommodated at Castle Peak. This new hospital of 1,000 beds is expected to be ready by the end of 1960.
288. In the meantime the Victoria Mental Hospital continued to be housed in two old and unsuitable buildings situated in a congested
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part of the City. Originally designed to accommodate 140 patients, this institution housed during 1959 a daily average of 428.7 patients, as opposed to 156.4 in 1950. There was also an average of 266.3 patients a day on parole. Due to this great pressure on space, arrangements had to be made during the year to increase the accommodation. These arrangements consisted of temporary extensions to the Male Block, the erection of temporary buildings in the grounds, the enclosure of verandahs and an enlargement of the hospital kitchen.
289. Despite such unfavourable conditions the most modern methods of diagnosis and treatment are available to both in-patients and out-patients. During 1959, a standard electroencephalograph machine was installed, regular anaesthetic assistance became available for the introduction of scoline-pentothal EC.T., and weekly group psychotherapy sessions were commenced. All orthodox physical methods of treatment were employed including leucotomy. Later in the year difficulty was encountered due to the loss of the services of a neuro-surgeon, a loss which also affected the diagnosis of obscure organic cases,
290. Chlorpromazine is still used to a great extent but several other tranquillizers have been used on a trial basis. Towards the end of the year a supply of the monoamine-oxidase inhibitors became available and were employed in the treatment of depressive states. Owing to pressure on facilities for treatment, no controlled therapeutic trials of the various drugs in use were possible.
291. Important expansion in the work of the Mental Health Service Look place during the year. This was reflected not only in the recruit- ment of younger doctors interested in psychiatry, but also in the intensification of both undergraduate and post-graduate training, including monthly clinical meetings which attracted interest from members of the profession outside the Department. From the legal aspect, important innovations were the posting of a psychiatrist to the Prisons Department, assistance in the detailed planning of a 'Prisons Department Mental Hospital' and advice on the preparation of a draft Mental Health Ordinance,
292. The impending transfer to Castle Peak Hospital will end an era. It seems appropriate, therefore, to review the advances made over the past decade, The increase in in-patient treatment has already received comment, but the added burden imposed by rapid expansion
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