X1000306-1959-60_Part02 — Page 1

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY

362. The Institute has occupied premises in Caine Lane on Hong Kong Island since its foundation in 1905. It is the headquarters of the Government clinical pathology and public health laboratory service with branches in the Kowloon. Tsan Yuk, Lai Chi Kok and Sai Ying Pun Hospitals. In addition, vaccine production, supervision of the Blood Banks, and the management of the two public mortuaries are undertaken by the staff of the Institute.

363. As from the first of April 1959, the University Department of Pathology at the Queen Mary Hospital has carried out all the routine clinical pathology, excluding medico-legal work and blood chemistry analyses, for this Hospital. In co-operation with the University a small polio-virus unit has also been established in the University Pathology Department, which is designed for investigation of the enteric viruses in Hong Kong and the laboratory control of the use of oral poliomyelitis vaccine should the need arise. The medical and technician stuff are provided by Government and other staff by the University.

364. The new premises for the Institute in the Sai Ying Pun Poly- clinic are now almost ready and will be occupied in July 1960. Vaccine production will however have to be continued at Caine Lane until the Vaccine Institute, to be built in the New Territories, is ready.

365. During the year 471,573 specimens were dealt with as compared to 439,042 during 1958. This increase is again considerable, particularly since the major part of the Queen Mary Hospital clinical pathology has been undertaken by the University. There was a marked rise in the number of samples of water, milk, ice cream and food products, and in the sensitivity tests on M. tuberculosis. The results of the latter are sel out in table 31 below.

Strongly resistant Resistant

Doubtfully resistant

Sensitive

-

367. Al appendix 14 is a summary of the examinations carried out at the Institute and its branches during 1959.

368. Courses of lectures and practical work for student technicians were continued throughout the year and separate short courses of instruction in laboratory techniques were run for Health Visitors, Health Inspectors and Student Nurses.

369. One additional qualified technologist was recruited during the year and four others returned from study leave in the UK with the A.M.LLT. Three other technicians were sent on study leave to the United Kingdom to undertake advanced training in various branches of technology prior to sitting the examinations for the Associateship.

Vaccine Production

370. Vaccines to the value of $282,891 were manufactured during the year, which for the most part are issued free as a public health measure. The quantities of vaccines manufactured were:

Anti-smallpox vaccine Anti-cholera vaccine

TABLE 32

VACCINE PRODUCTION

Paccine prepared 46,279 ml.

Vaccine issued

40.197 ml.

50,500 ml.

Anti-typhoid-paratyphoid vaccine (Adult)

62,950 ml.

69,250 ml.

Anti-typhoid-paratyphoid vaccine (Children)

48.900 ml.

92,070 ml.

Anti-plague vaccine

160 ml.

Anti-rabies vaccine 2% Anti-rubies vaccine 4%

$1,900 ml.

46,240 ml.

25,800 ml.

30,930 ml.

Grand total

227,929 ml.

329,347 ml.

P.P.D. Tuberculin diluted and issued

5,650 ml.

Streptomycin

PAS.

INE.

The Public Mortuaries

502 24.4%

SL 23

193 9.6%

357 27.7%

302 15%

433 21.5%

340 16.9%%% 610 31%

426 21.2%

513 25.5%

1,230 61.8% 870 4.3%

TABLE 31

SENSITIVITY TESTS FOR MYCO, TUBERCULOSIS

366. The isolation of atypical strains of acid-fast organisms was further studied and, in addition, 51 spula were examined for the presence of paragonimus ova: 8 were found to be positive.

371. The two public mortuaries are situated one on either side of the harbour and to these are brought cases of sudden or unnatural death, In addition all rodent specimens sent in for examination for plague are dealt with at the two mortuaries, which each have a special section designed for this work. Table 33 sets out the work performed during the year.

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