X1000307-1953-54_Part01 — Page 43

271. Seizures of contraband narcotic druga by Police and Revenue Officers during the year numbered 4,364. There were no particularly large seizures of good quality raw opium and the majority were small amounts of opium prepared for smoking and small parcels of heroin. Of the raw opium scized a small quantity was retained by the Department for the preparation of Tincture of Opium, the remainder was held for disposal through the offices of the Crown Agents for Oversea Govern- ments and Administrations. Other items were disposed of by dumping at sea.

Pathological (including Mortuaries)

272. The Pathological Institute in Victoria and a sub. sidlary institute in the Kowloon Hospital constitute this sub-department, which is also responsible for a small clinical laboratory in the Queen Mary Hospital and two public mor- tuaries in Victoria and Kowloon. The Government Pathologist is in charge and he is assisted by 3 pathologists. Other staff consists of the Chief Laboratory Technician, 2 laboratory technicians and 20 laboratory assistants together with menial staff. In past years and until recently the laboratory staff was insufficient and the laboratory constituted a definite bottle-beck in the Department's work. During the year under review the

situation was substantially improved by the addition of 8 pro- bationer laboratory assistants and, in due course, when these men have been trained the laboratory service should be very much more satisfactory.

273. The total number of specimens examined during 1953 was 299,943 which representa a considerable increase over the corresponding figure of 214,026 in the previous year. The examinations undertaken by the sub-department during the year are summarized in Appendix 17 and a summary of the work carried out in the public mortuaries is set forth in Appendix 18. An important event in the year's working was the adoption of the V.D.R.L. flocculation slide test for syphilis as the routine serological examination by the end of the year. The Kahn test was only employed as a check on doubtful findings.

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274. As in the past preparation of vaccine lymph and other vaccines accounted for a substantial proportion of the work of the Institute. The volume of this work also showed an increase in the year under review and the Table below indicates what was accomplished.

Anti-smallpox vaccine Anti-cholara

FI

Anti-typhoid-paratyphoid vaccine (Adult) .. (Children)

IM

Anti-plague vaccine

rabic

r

EF

(2%)

rinderpest vaccina Diluted taberculin

Grand Total

Vaccine ierced

26,855 ml.

TABLET

Verrine prepared

24,970 ml. 176,400

148,740

14

25,320

330

۳۱

--

42,400

31,

T

B4B00

M

28,500

1,050,270

38,500

Chemical Laboratory

632,325

275. The Chemical Laboratory is the responsibility of the Government Chemist who has a staff of qualified chemists and 3 laboratory assistants together with menial staff. It under- takes analytical and consulting chemical work for all Govern- ment departments and in addition carries out work for the Services, public bodies and the commercial community.

276. The Laboratory is well equipped and supplied and an improvement in its equipment was effected during the year by the installation of a small air-conditioning and dehumidifying plant with a view to preserving the valuable optical and electrical equipment from deterioration during the hot weather. However, accommodation in the laboratory is restricted and adequate space is not available for the proper storage of Police exhibits and hazardous chemicals.