ENG-1954 — Page 147

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

Rabies. Stringent precautions covering the move- ment of dogs and protective inoculations were continued and no case of rabies in a human being was recorded. 9 cases occurred in animals.

Tuberculosis. For many years tuberculosis has been by far the most serious clinical and public health problem in the Colony and this is true of the year 1954. 12,508 cases were notified and there was 2,876 deaths. The figures for 1953 were 11,900 and 2,039.

The Medical Department operates the only two large-scale diagnostic clinics in the Colony. One of there was opened on 1st April, 1954, to replace an older clinic which was no longer suitable for this purpose. There were 218,424 attendances at these clinics with an average monthly increase of 2,000 attendances at each. The increases can mainly be attributed to an increase in the use of specific drugs for out-patients. There was also a great increase in attendances for artificial pneumothroax and artificial pneumoperi- toneum and over one thousand per month were dealt with. The success of this treatment has fully justified the time spent upon it.

In 1954 evening sessions were started at the tuber- culosis clinics but it is too early to gauge their success. However, attendances at branch clinics in various public dispensaries showed gratifying increases, and it is evident that the confidence of the public in the services offered by the Government is increasing.

The B.C.G. vaccination campaign has continued. All school children have already been offered B.C.G. inoculation and in schools a steady maintenance pro-

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