The Straits Settlements medical report.

  • Straits Settlements. Medical Department.
Date:
[1920]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Straits Settlements medical report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/64 (page 14)
    One thousand seven hundred and ninety-one Intravenous injections of N. A. B. were administered, no ill-effects were observed after any of these injections. Eight subcutaneous injections of Sulfarsenol were given without causing any local discomfort to patient and with satisfactory results upon skin lesions. Intravenous injections of mercury were frequently employed. 12. Tuberculosis.—Five hundred and eighty-five cases of this disease were treated. Five hundred and fifty-seven of these were pulmonary and 28 General Tuberculosis. The death-rate was 47'52 per cent. 13. “Dangerous and Infectious Diseases.” A. Cholera 6 cases, 3 of which died in this hospital, the remaining 3 being transferred to the Isolation Hospital. B. Plague 12 cases (2 Pneumonic Plague, 10 Bubonic Plague), 6 includ¬ ing the 2 Pneumonic cases died here, the remainder were transferred. C. Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.—There wfere 7 admissions for this disease. One case died here, the remainder were transferred. Sixteen specimens of cerebro-spinal fluid were sent to the Government Pathologist for his report. D. Small-pox.—There were no cases. 14. Operations.—Major cases 198, Minor cases 1,797, Deaths 32. 15. Medico-Legal.—Sixty-one dead bodies were sent by the Coroner for post-mortem examination. Seven hundred and three cases were sent by the Police for treatment. 16. Observation for Lunacy.—169 patients were detained under observa¬ tion for lunacy. One hundred and two of these were certified to be insane. Since March, 1920, Wasserman tests have been performed on all patients showing signs of mental disease. The blood serum of 50 persons who were subsequently found to be insane gave the following results with the Wasserman test: — Positive 23. Negative 26. Anti-complimentary 1. 17. Staff.—Dr. R. D. Fitzgerald, m.c., remained in charge of the hospital until March 12th, 1920, when I relieved him. Assistant Surgeon E. W. de Cruz relieved Assistant Surgeon K. Siniia in June as Senior Assistant Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon J. Suares was respon¬ sible for the operative surgery from March to December, 1920. Assistant Surgeon Kheng Jit Heng was responsible for the treatment of the leprosy patients. The other Assistant Surgeons employed in this hospital during the year were S. M. Ikrarim, Lee Kek Soon and V. Gopalan. Beri-beri.—Admissions for Beri-beri showing nationalities for the last four years: Year. Chinese. NATIONALITIES. Malays. Indians. Japanese. Others. Total Admission. — — — — — — 1917 429 10 2 30 2 473 1918 682 15 8 62 10 111 1919 550 15 13 61 11 650 1920 80 5 4 11 3 103. In view of the decrease in Beri-beri shown by these figures it is interesting to note that Polished rice became difficult to obtain in 1919, so that Parboiled rice had to be used instead throughout the year 1920.