study in the University of Otago in New Zealand, In-service training in dental technology is available for students in Government employment and evening classes are held in the Hong Kong Technical College for technicians in private employment. Three dental surgery assistants are under training for dental nursing in Penang, Malaysia under World Health Organization Fellowships.
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
(See Tables 36-37)
64. The Forensic Pathology Service continued to work in close co- operation with the Police Department in all branches of medico-legal work and to operate the two public mortuaries.
65. Only one death resulted from typhoons during the year, but the disastrous torrential rains of early June caused 67 deaths. One death resulted from the Kowloon disturbances in April 1966.
GOVERNMENT CHEMICAL LABORATORY
(See table 42)
66. The work of the laboratory remained at a high level and, as in previous years, narcotic drugs formed the largest category of samples: over 14,000 seizures were examined and certified. They included some very large shipments (over 11,000 lbs.) of raw opimum, and of morphine hydrochloride (over 600 lbs.).
67. The forensic work included the examination and certification of a number of scheduled poisons sold or used unlawfully.
68. Work under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance was concerned with the routine examination of foods to ensure that they complied with existing legislation. Common contraventions included the use of non-permitted colours or of an excessive addition of preserva- tive, while others were the adulteration of edible oils by cheap vegetable oil, or even by mineral oil.
69. A section has been engaged on the analysis of medicinal drugs, mostly samples from those purchased by Government for use in hospitals and clinics. Some samples of drugs and medicines sold to the public by retail have been analysed, and prosecutions have followed the discovery of gross adulteration of certain vitamin preparations.
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GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY
(See tables 38-41)
70. The expansion of medical services in Hong Kong and the increasing importance of laboratory investigations in both curative and preventive medicine have been reflected in the increasing number of investigations which totalled 1,354,948, an increase of about 13.5% over the previous year. This increase could be attributed at least in part to the re-opening of the Institute of Pathology at Kowloon Hospital. This new laboratory, besides providing a clinical pathology service, acts as a central Public Health Laboratory for the whole of Kowloon and the New Territories. This arrangement now leaves the laboratory at Queen Elizabeth Hospital responsible for only hospital work. In spite of this the total number of tests performed at the latter has not diminished. The Government Institute of Pathology also helps to conduct laboratory examinations for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals totalling 50,654 tests, representing 4% of the overall total. Work arising from Queen Mary Hospital on pathology, clinical biochemistry and bacteriology is undertaken by the University Department of Pathology which receives a subvention from Government for such services.
Bacteriology
71. The year-round monitoring of nightsoil and cases of gastro- enteritis for cholera vibrios continued. This resulted in the detection of one clinical case on 21st November, 1966 where Vibrio cholera el Tor, subtype Ogawa, was isolated from the stool of a patient in Kewloon suffering from gastro-enteritis. There were also 46 positive isolates of Vibrio cholera el Tor from Hong Kong nightsoil between 25th - 28th November, 1966 (all subtype Ogawa). No clinical cases were detected on Hong Kong Island. Other projects included studies on the effects of anti-biotics and antisera on vibrios and the virulence of mutants.
72. The joint undertaking between the Medical Research Council and the Hong Kong Government in the study of anti-tuberculosis drugs continues. This work now embraces investigations on anti-tuberculosis drug levels in pus from cases of tuberculosis of the spine.
73. Vaccine production was at a high level, being twice that of the previous year.
Haematology and Blood Banks
74. The Hong Kong Branch of the British Red Cross Society con- tinued to maintain a blood collection service and to distribute the blood
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