Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 872

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Dysentery. This disease has been the subject of special investigation during the past year. A constant search was kept for its presence in bodies at the Public Mortuary. It was the cause of death in 41 cases. Its incidence as regards age in these is of interest.

0-1 year,

1- 5 years,

8

13

5

5-10

10-20

20-30

Over 30

3

.10

Total,

41

Therefore over 50 % of the cases occurred in children under 10 years of age.

From a strictly bacteriological point of view it has been found impossible in the majority of cases to definitely state whether amoeba were present or absent. In some cases the ambæ could be seen without much difficulty, but in many others, in the absence of motility of the parasite, no definite conclusion could be drawn. Further, in other cases, amoeba were present along with bacilli which gave many of the reactions of the so-called B. dysen- teria. With these difficulities before us, coupled with the variance of opinion expressed by different authorities, as to what is, and what is not, a dysentery bacillus; we are at present unable to draw any definite conclusions.

The research is to be carried on during the year 1907.

Trachoma.—Through the kindness of Dr. HARSTON, it has been possible to examine microscopically and bacteriologically many cases of this disease. Although a considerable amount of time has been devoted to the preparation and examination of the granulomatous tissue, according to the most recent tinctorial and bacteriologicol methods, nothing has been found. It is improbable that the disease is due to any of the ordinary micro-organisms.

Malta Fever-The agglutination test was done on one occasion with a negative result. Cases of the disease would not appear to originate in the Colouy.

Typhoid Fever-The Widal Test has been applied in 36 cases during the year with satisfactory results. In some cases of obscure fever the paratyphoid reaction was obtained, but positive results must be accepted with reserve.

Notes on the Prevalence of Parasitic Worms in Hongkong.

1. Distoma Sinensis.--This worm is one of the commonest parasites amongst the Chinese. In the Public Mortuary, the worm is constantly met with, inhabiting the bile aucts and gall bladder of cadavers brought there for examination. The number of worms which have been found in a single individual is small, and rarely exceeds 300-400. It is more prevalent in adults than in children-vide Table No. VII attached. During the past year, in no case was it considered to be a direct cause of death.

Experiments were made in order find the mode of infection. Five different varieties of snails, common in Hongkong, were kept in vessels containing the eggs of this worm. The eggs contained active embryos, and were ingested by the snails. In no case, could further development of the eggs be traced, the snails passing the eggs unbatched. These molluscs were chosen for the experiments, as the sheep fluke has a snail as its intermediate host. It may be added that the intermediate host of none of the human distomes has been discovered, although much work has been done on the subject by different observers.

No other human Trematodes have been found at the Public Mortuary.

2. Cestodes. So far these worms have not been found in Chinese cadavers,