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132
RINGWORM.
The number of specimens examined for the presence of this
parasite amounted to three, which all proved negative. The
number of specimens examined at the laboratory is not so great as
formerly, the greater proportion being examined at the Town Hall.
MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATIONS.
Various other bacteriological and microscopical examinations
were made during the year, viz. :
Urines : 35 for typhoid and other organisms.
Pathological specimens :
3 for Gonococcus.
1 pus for Tubercle.
3 for Pneumococcus.
1 for Streptococcus.
4 Anthrax.
1 Cancer cells.
PREPARATION OF MATERIAL.
In addition to the actual examination of specimens, much time
has been spent on preparing material for bacteriological works.
Suitable " outfits " for the transmission of specimens to the laboratory
in accordance with the requirements of the Postmaster-General
require careful preparation. 3,396 (2,571 Diphtheria, 723 Enteric,
102 Tuberculosis) of these "outfits" were supplied during the
year for the use of the Public Health staff and the medical men of
the Borough. The making of serum culture media commenced in
19o6 for use in the laboratory has been continued this year. The
blood is obtained from the Public Slaughter House and prepared
for use by the senior laboratory attendant (Harold Ashby) under
the direction of the medical officers. 476 dozen tubes of blood
serum were prepared in 1914.
The material prepared in this way, if reckoned at the commercial
price, during 1914, i.e., 3s. 6d. per dozen tubes, would
have cost £83 6s. In this way a great saving is made in the
working expenses of the laboratory. In addition to the serum
media mentioned above, the following were prepared during the
year :—
6 litres of peptone broth.
2 litres of agar agar.
2 litres of McConkey's bile salt medium.
400 cc. of litmus milk.
200 cc. of peptone water.
1 litre of McConkey's agar.
Also the following vaccines were prepared for use both in the
Hospital and for cases in the Borough :—
3 typhoid vaccines.
6 staphylococcic vaccines.
x mixed (staphylococcus and streptococcus).
Total 10