343
It is a good practice to anesthetise the patient as unless this removal of the diseased gland tissue is done systematically and thoroughly the parts which are left will be very slow to subside and may cause considerable trouble by burrowing under the surrounding healthy skin. The attempt to procure absorption by the application of pressure has been found quite useless.
35. HYDROPHOBIA.--One case of Hydrophobia was admitted during the year, the patient was a schoolboy from the Diocesan Home who was bitten by a stray dog on 27th February; he was brought to the Hospital on the same day, treated for the dog bites and discharged cured on 12th March. He was re-admitted on the 4th April, complaining of neuralgic pains in the region of the bites. On the 6th instant further well-marked symptoms of Hydrophobia developed and he died of this disease on the 7th instant.
36. INJURIES.--190 are returned under this heading. The most important point to note is the increase in the number of dog bites, no less than twelve patients were admitted from this cause during the year. Undoubtedly this is due to the large number of stray dogs that are allowed to run loose in the Colony.
In addition to the case of Hydrophobia noted above I am informed that three deaths from this disease have occurred at the Alice Memorial Hospital, and one at Quarry Bay, during the past year.
Two patients (Chinese) were admitted on 13th July who were seriously injured in the Peak Tramway accident.
They had both sustained very severe injuries to their legs. In one case the limb was so smashed that amputation had to be performed, in the other case there was a compound fracture of the Tibia and Tibula, after removing part of the Tibia the bones were set and ultimately the patient recovered with free use of the affected leg.
The first case made a good recovery and was discharged with a wooden leg.
37. SURGICAL OPERATIONS.-The total number of operations performed during the year was 136 with 10 deaths as against 142 with 12 deaths in the previous year.
AMPUTATIONS. In the fatal case the patient, a Chinainan, was severely injured in a machinery accident at East Point Refinery, the thigh was practically amputated before the patient was admitted, he never recovered from the shock but died a few hours after admission.
Notes of some of the more interesting operations are given in the Appendix.
HEPATIC ABSCESS.-I regret to have to record the death of Surgeon-Captain SMYTHE of the Army Medical Staff from this disease.
Two other cases of Liver Abscess were operated on during the year and died, in both cases post mortem examination revealed the presence of numerous abscesses, in one case there was a distinct history of dysentery.
FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS.--In addition to those operated on (in List of Operations) the following fractures and dislocations were treated :--
Simple.
Compound.
Skull,
..3
7
Superior and Inferior Maxillæ,
.0
1
Inferior Maxilla,
1
0
Rib or Ribs,..................
.4
Spine,
3
0
Humerus,
..3
1
Radius,.......
..3
0.
Ulna,
..1
0
Radius and Ulna,
.1
Metacarpal,
1
Femur,
Tibia,
.7
.2
Fibula,
...1
Tibia and Fibula...................
..0
Tibia, Fibula and Spine,.
.1
Both Radii, .............
1
Tibia, Radius and dislocation of elbow,
.1
Dislocation of shoulder joint,
2
Dislocation of Acromio-Clavicular joint,
..2
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0
0
0
2
0
0
38. ALCOHOLISM.-There were 48 cases, with one exception, that of a Chinaman, these were European sailors.
39. POISONING.-There were only 5 cases under treatment during the year, in each the poisonous agent was opium; two proved fatal.
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