The diagnostic work of the department has steadily increased as is illustrated by the following table:
J
TABLE 14
1952
1953
1954
Total number of examination............. 147,691 195,673 233,563
Of these 233,563 examinations, 207,043 were chest examina- tions, mainly for tuberculosis. The total number of treatments given was 5,165.
VIJE.
SPECIAL ANCILLARY SERVICES
Ophthalmic Service.
100. The main opthalmic centre in Hong Kong was establi- shed in Violet Peel Polyclinic, Wanchai, at the beginning of the year. The main centre in Kowloon is located at Kowloon Hospital. From these 2 centres staff are sent out to various out-patient clinics to operate special ophthalmic clinics once or twice a week. Such special sessions are now being held at 10 out-stations. During 1954 there were 50,378 attendances at the various eye clinics, of which 25,518 were new cases. The pressure on the clinics of cases suffering from actual eye diseases has been so heavy that it has been impossible to under- take simple correction of vision tests for the general public to any great extent, but in cases where correction of vision is needed as part of treatment of an eye disease, free or cheap spectacles have been provided.
Preventive Treatment.
101. Penicillin is now used as a routine prophylactic measure at birth in all Government maternity centres in place of the former silver nitrate treatment. This has been found
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to produce less irritation and to be as satisfactory in preventing eye diseases amongst the new born. Persons sustaining eye injuries in industry are now attending much more promptly for treatment and the number of eyes lost from neglect or delay in seeking treatment in such cases is diminishing in a most gratifying manner. Shark's liver oil, prepared locally, is used as a supplementary diet to provide vitamin A in cases suffering from eye conditions associated with malnutrition.
Notes on Curative Procedures.
102. Trachoma is now treated as recommended by the World Health Organization with tetracyclines. It is, however, not a grave problem in Hong Kong and a recent survey of all patients attending the eye clinics revealed that only 15% suffered from this disease.
108. Dimox and Di-fluoro Phosphene have been used with excellent results in the treatment of glaucoma. The use of cortisone in addition to systemic treatment given at the social hygiene clinics has been most successful during the current year in preventing cases of blindness from interstitial keratitis, not one case having developed. The out-patient operation theatres have been fully used all year for the surgical correc- tions of eye defects, greatly relieving the load on the hospitals.
Dental Service.
104. At the close of the period under review there were 8 dental clinics in operation; 4 in the General Dental Service, 3 in the School Dental Service, and 1 operating jointly for the General and School Dental Services.
105. Two new dental clinics were opened during the year. The new Wanchai Clinic in Kennedy Road, which was officially opened on 1st April, 1954, includes in its second floor the Dental Headquarters (Dental Specialist's office, stores and laboratory) a Government Servants' Dental Centre (4 surgeries
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