1936-10-07 — Page 15

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1936.

HONGKONG MEDICAL DEPARTMENT REPORT DEALS WITH MANY SUBJECTS

TERRIBLE

TOLL OF

INFANTS

In Hongkong from various

AST year 22,133 persons died

enuses,

TE

Of these, no less than 7,754|| were infants under the age of twelve months.

There is probably no part of the world, with the exception of some parts of China, where the mortality among infants is so high.

Although an accurate percentage of infant mortollly in Hongkong is un- obtainable, owing to the fact that many Chinese do not reglater the birth of their children, the gares are nevertheless startling enough for the Director of Medical Services, Dr. A. R. Wellington, to state in his Annual Report that "allowing that only one third of the births were re- Histered, this would still mean a very High infantile mortality figure."

The number of infant deaths is the highest recorded in many years. It shows an Increase of 660 over 1934.

if the figures for the Chinese births registered represented the fotat births, which they do noi, the in- fantile mortality rate for Chinese in Hongkang last year would be 318.36 per thousand births.

Statistics compiled by the League; of Nations show that the Infanti mortality in every country in the world is lower that this figure.

Is more than double the death rate amongst infants for every other country in the Far East with the exception of the Strolls and the Philippines, where the infant morta- tity is 100 and 163 per mile respec- tively.

HONGKONG MEMORIAL TO KING GEORGE,

This sketch allows the contemplated paddling pool for children at the Park to be laid on the old Governmení Civil, Hospital garden area as part of Hongkong's Memorial to the late King George V.

RABIES

Hongkong Is

At Big Disadvantage

FATAL CASES

Ten cases of Rabies were

MEDICINE CAKE THE TRAGEDY OF

MADE WITH STRYCHNINE!

How a quanilty of Chinese Medi- cine Cake was found to contain muficient strychnine kill any per. son eating it is brought to light for the first time in the Annual Report: of the Director of Medical Services.

Samples of the cake was analysed real the Government Laborator, fol.

Only two other nations in the world have infant mortality figures! that exceed 200 per mille. These are! Malla (307 per mille) and Chilel ported during the year. Three lowing the accidental polsoning of a (235 per mille); In New Zealand cases occured in humans, the

and Australia, where infants havel

the

greatest chance of living, the mainder in dogs. death rate before they attain twelve months of age is only 31 and 41 per mille respectively. In England and Wales it is only 65 per mille.

Non-Chinese babies born in Hong- kong have a better chance of attain- ing twelve months of age than babies born in the United Kingdom. Eng- land, Wales, the United States, France, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary.

re-

The human cases occurred in Kowloon. There were no enses on the Island of Hongkong.

Two of the human cases bad been treated wilh anti-rable Vaccine before ille appearance of symptoms. All were fatal. Of the 534 cases treated for rables)

352 were Chinese, lost year,

100 British, 20 Portuguese, 14 Indian, six Ilusslan, five ench French, American Ouly four countries in the world and German, four Japanese, three have better infant mortality figures Eurostan, two Norwegian and than those for European bables each Peruvian, Austring, Spanish, born in Hongkong. They are New Italian and Dutch. Zealand, Australia, Holland and A total of 4,020 does was nd- Iceland.

ministered. Only 237 of the 534 Only 2 non-Chinese bables died cases completed the full course of in Hongkong last year.

injections.

one.

MERTON COLLEGE again be reached was doomed to be

WARDEN

Chusty, the cake was labelled for

Chinese who ale Bome of It.

external use on bruises,

The discovers was not made until a post mortem examination of the body of the Chinese was held.

ernment Laboratory were found to The samples examined by the Gov. contain 15 per cent, of strychnine!

Chemists Aid H.K. Police To Detect Crime

HOW NAIL PARINGS BROUGHT MAN TO JUSTICE

WHITE PLAGUE

IN THE FAR EAST

Though leprosy is a notifiable disease in Hongkong, very few cases are notified.

The number of lepers in this Colony is not known, but assum- ing that theincidence rate is the same as that of the neighbouring countries, the total number cannot be less than 500 and may approach 1,000.

To many, these figures will appear to be exaggerations, but have taken the trouble to make the necessary enquiries, states they are accepted by all who are authorities on the subject and

the Director of Medical Services, in his Annual Report for 1935.

Big Increase In Diptheria Last Year

The factors geographical, physical, political and commercial which render impractical quarantine mea- sures against the River Ports have also an important bearing on the leprosy problem. Under the ctr- cumstances prevalling it is impossible to put into operation here "certain measures adopted by other countries for the control of the discuse,

Considering the great movements During 1935, there were reported majority of the population of Hong- of population and the fact that the 61 cases of small-pox, 110 cases of kong are Chinësć subjects whose cerebro-spinal fever, 220 cases of movements are practically unrestrict- diptheria and 319 cases of enteric. ed and who can cross and recross the There were no cholera or plague border without hindrance the control cases.

of leprosy presents peculiar difficul-

The plous hope expressed in the previous Annual Report that the record of that year would not soon |

shattered, and we have again to re- port a new high point of activity in How the staff of the Hongkong London, Oct. 6. Medical Services-in-his-Ammual Re- the direction of the Acting Gov-year in the cold season, when the

this Department, says the Director of Government Laboratory, under

Smallpox manifests itself- every Sir John Miles, Senior Research port. Fellow at Merton College, Oxford, Canine rubles was still prevalent, ernment Analyst, Mr. A. Jackson, outbreaks are sometimes sporadic was to-day admitted to the Warden- morcover infection was present on helps to bring criminals to justice sometimes epidemic. Forty-four of ship of the College, in succession to the Island as well as on the Main is shown in an interesting way Mr. Thomas Bowman, who has re-land. Of 44 animal brains examined, tired after being Warden since 12 were found to contain Negri in the Annual Report of the 1003, Ancient customs were ab-bodies.

Director of Medical Services for served.

"Three fatal human cases occurred.

Sir Jalan has been tutor at Merton The first received no treatment with 1935, just released for publica since 1809. During the war he was prophylacile vaccine. The

othera tion. legal assistant at the Ministry of died after receiving She routine Munitions and later was solicitor to course of vaccine. the Ministry of Labour British The polley being steadily pursued Wireless.

(Continued on Pape 4.3

*.

Infant Welfare Work Shows Need For More Local Clinics

More clinics for infant welfare work are sadly required in Hongkong although this type of work received a stimulus last year when the Violet Peel Health Centre was opened

The need for such clinics is emphasised by the fact that thousands of Chinese mothers attended the clinics in Kowloon and Wanchai last year, the total attendances fo rthe year being 20,183 at the Violet Peel Centre and 15,041 at the Kowloon Centre. Over 14 per cent. In Wanchai, and 87 per cent, in Kowloon, of these mothers attended for soup, which saved many a life during the year.

by

| Lies."

"How to dral justly with the af- fileted who are already within our borders and at the same time avoid death. the 61 cases reported resulted injany risk of attracting sufferers from neighbouring provinces who may be- come a burden on the rates is a Diptheria occurs throughout

which has exercised problem

the year, but the majority of cases natin-minds of many and one which is ed occur during the cold weather of most dificult to solve satisfactorily." December, January and February. Dr. Wellington states. Of the 206 cases reported last year,

the

In two cases of robbery with vio-136 proved fatal, compared with 162 tence last year, pepper was used by cases with 82 deaths in 1934. the robbers as a blinding agent.

"Delora 1910 there was no law with regard to lepern. In that year the Lepers Ordinance was passed Cerebro-Spinal Fever' apparently with the object of controlling the In each case, samples of clothing occurs mostly in the first five months situation through the segregation of were examined by the Government of the year. Of the 110 cases re-tepers who were British subjects and analysts, and were found to be ported last year, 49.00 per cent, were the expulsion of others. The Gov- sprinkled with pepper. In one of futal.

ernment was given the sole right of these cuses, parings from the finger-

Ever since the severe outbreak of | providing a refuge for the afilleted nails of the accused were found to this disease in 1917, the Medical De- and it was made an offence for any contain all the essential microscopie partment has kept on hand a supply one to harbour a leper. structures of pepper amongst ike of serum, made at the Bacteriological other debris. Needless to state, the evidence of the Government analyst who made the examination was suf- Scient to convlet the man.

On several occasions, complete i colner's outfits were submitted for examination by the Police, and in the subsequent legal proceedings, evid-

Ence

Institute from the local strains of meningococcus. This scrum gives very good results when used early In the disease.

Last years figures were the lowest for several years.

PLAGUE

Analyst and staff materially assisted plugue have been reported in Hong- given by the Government For the last six years no cases of in the conviction of the accused kong. persons.

Two cases of petty larceny are of interest. The persons were arrested

"No asylum or refuge was built and the net result of the 1910 act was to make the position worse than it was before,

Under the law, except in the case of the mon rich enough to provide for himself in his own domain sumcient Isolation, no treatment by a private practitioner or treatment as an out- however slight the symptoms. patient at a hospital wae permissible,

"The Police had at once to be notified and the unhappy victim taken into custody to be expelled from the Colony if he were unable to prove himself a British subject or to be released to hide himself in hopeless Isolation If he could sa prove.

The disappearance of this dlecase not only from this Colony..but from the greater part of China and its As in other years, it was found Jasi "During the year, the Society for off the "gold leaf" characters with to factors which are not understood,

for damaging signboards by rubbing decline throughout world are due year that the great majority. in the Protection of Chlidren has con- cotton waste. When charged the de- Iants taken to the clinics required tinued to give valuable help

Systematic rat-catching and perl- medical treatment on their first visits supplying milk for artificial feeds to fendants stated that they intended to [odical cleansing of houses were car- Over a thousand infants were found poor mothers, und by visiting cases the subsequent Court proceedings number of rats collected was 102,251, Ordinance 1935, which repealed that

recover the gold from the waste. At ried out throughout the year. Total to be suffering from malnutrition, referred to them.

"On June 13 was passed the Lepers while over 1,400 were suffering from NON-CHINESE BIRTHS

minute gold beads obtained from the of which 21,620 were taken alive, as of 1810. The new Ordinance looks digestive disturbances. Even more terrible was the fact that

There were 627 births (273 male, samples were produced as evidence. compared with 175,687 and 21,076 in 753 In 254 female) (including 18 late regis-

During the year specimens of urine 1934. The number collected each upon leprosy less harshly than its Wanchal and 380 in Kowloon of the tration of births after 12 months) from persons accused of offences year shows that there is no diminu predecessor. The unfortunate in-

whilst under the influence of alcohol don in the rat population.

Infants were found to be suffering registered in Hongkong as follows: from Respiratory Diseases. There were seven cases of Ricketa, and 160 cases of Congenital Syphills.

Commenting on the work of the Government Infant Welfare Centres, the Director of Medical Services, Dr. A. K. Wellington, states in his Annual Report:

"Incorrect feeding with its trail of digestive disturbances continues to be our most difficult problem,

"Morning talks were given for some months but were discontinued when It was found that Mothers

were

unable to make the mental| effort to listen. More time is now given to the individual instruction of cach mother on her first and second visits, impressing on her the Import- ance of regular ferds and of suitable artificial feeds when required.

"We have still the problem of the many mothers who are unable to read the 'clock.

British Australian New Zealander

. American

French Cerman Netherland Norwegian Danish Swiss Hungarian Pariamanian Russian Portuguese Jowish Japanese Indian Malayan Ceylonese

Filipino Siamese

Brazilian

Annenite

Eurasian

220

4

2

13

4

19

117

were examined. “In one casé a speck-i All the rats collected were sent to men of urine, taken after the accused the Publie Mortuary for examination: had been in custody twenty-four None was found Infected, hours, was found still to contain 60 mgms. of alcohol per 100 ccs. urine.

| ACID-THROWING

INCIDENT

SMALLPOX

+

The majority of Chinese still hold the opinion that the herbalist treat ment of smallpox gives better results than the methods adopted by practi- tioners qualified In Western medicine. An analysis of the statistics of (0) the Tung Wah Infectious Discuses An acid-throwing incident occurred Hospital where only herbalist treat-

at 168 Johnston Road, yesterday, ment is carried out, and (b) the when a woman, Mak Kue, is alleged Government Infectious Diseases Hos to have thrown a bowl containing pital, where western treatment only

“dividual", who has contracted the loathsome paliction through no fault of his own is now regarded as "u' human case of disease who has claim to receive the same sympathetic treatment för his trouble na la ac- corded to any one suffering from any other disease of à contagious naturo such as tuberculosis or venereal dis ease.

......

**It is the intention of Govern ment to establish a proper leper settlement in a suitable · situation when the necessary (funds KID Available,

depression' prevented anything being "Unfortunately the severe financial done in 1035 or any provision being

some sort of acid at Tong Tak-ain: is provided, shows that this view is entered in the estimates for 1836.

He was severely burried on the left not correct. eye, and was taken to the Govern- iment Civil Hospital for treatment.

It is not known what the" motive)

for the action was, but it is assumed

that Jealousy was a factur..

The settlement when: bulit will not Calculating on the figures for the be solely a place of segregation but

* list 25 years the case death rate in addition a centre for inpatient at the Tung Wan was 47.3 per cent treatment and retreat for those who while that at the Government in are unable to provide for them- #itution was 18.25 per cents pernel salvas.

"I haven't seen you

for years

➡said Johnnie Walker

The last time Johnnie Walker saw this cask

of whisky it was the new make," and was about to be stored away to begin the long: natural process of maturing.

Now, after a number of years, the whisky has "grown up" and is to be blended with other good matured whiskies into an even better whisky-Johnnie Walker. Because of its natural "roundness," Johnnie Walker is most valuable and refreshing in all climates. It's always worth while asking for Johnnie Walker by name.

JOHNNIE WALKER

Bora 1820-still going strong Sole Agents for China CALDBECK, MACGREGOR & Co., LTD. SHANGHAI .. HONGKONG TIENTSIN

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