maceuticals, routine instruments, and dressings are purchased locally through Controller of Stores. During the year supplies were issued to 215 institutions.
111. Another very important aspect of the Chief Phar- macist's duties is the issue of licences to premises registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and the routine inspection of their records. In addition, similar duties are involved in the supervision of dealings în anti-biotics and dangerous drugs. A careful examination is made at the end of each month of all movements of dangerous drugs within the Colony. Licences (official authorizations to import) are issued for each individual importation of dangerous drugs, and the numerous quarterly and annual returns to the Permanent Central Opium Board are prepared by the Chief Pharmacist.
112. Following are comparative figures for 1953 and 1954 of issues of licences to deal in poisons and anti-biotics and the number of inspections made:
1954
1953
176 429
229 249
Wholesale Dealers Licences
Listed Sellers Licences
Licences isaned to Authorized Premiscs
(Pharmacies)
24
23
Anti-biotic Permits
207
194
Restricted Anti-biotic Permits
Premises inspected
167 69
1,078 1,092
The drop in the number of Anti-biotic Permits issued can only be construed as an indication of trade conditions in anti-biotics.
Physiotherapy.
113. The headquarters of this sub-department was moved to a new clinic which was opened on the 1st April, 1954. This new clinic, which is conveniently situated on the ground floor
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of the building, contains 6 treatment units, an occupational therapy room, and a hydrotherapy room which accommodates one large and two smaller tanks supplied by the United Nations International Children's Fund. There is also a working area where the wax baths are given and other treatments prepared and a large re-education room with fitted wall bars and numerous aids for patients of all ages who are just beginning to regain the use of their limbs. The treatments at this new clinic alone totalled 26,852 by the end of the year.
Medical Social Services.
114. The increased turnover of patients in all the hospitals brought more work for the almoners as each patient is inter- viewed at least once. At the Mental Hospital there has been a noticeable increase in the work of tracing the home connexions of the "unknown" and "neglected" cases. Considerable time
and effort is needed to discover their true identity and social resources, but in most of these cases relatives have been traced and patients returned to their homes. Special attention has been given to patients suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma who often make long journeys several times weekly for radio- therapy at Queen Mary Hospital. Many are found to be too poorly nourished to take the treatment and these patients are given extra food and their travelling expenses are paid. Some attempt has also been made to help with the social problems of lepers, both those attending the out-patient clinics and those fit for discharge from Hay Ling Chau Leprosarium. Experience has shown that the problems of this group of people are not easily resolved and it is unlikely that any really useful contribu- tion can be made until an almoner is appointed solely for this work.
115. Expenditure on surgical appliances for patients too poor to meet the cost themselves amounted to $3,422. Grants were made from the Samaritan Fund for temporary maintenance of patients or their dependants, for fares for patients to attend
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