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34
BACTERIOLOGICAL AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OP DOUBTFUL
CASES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Towards the latter end of the year the question of affording the assistance of
bacteriology in the diagnosis of doubtful cases of infectious disease came under the
consideration o the Public Health Committee, and the advisability of entering into an
arrangement with one of the institutions accessible within the Metropolis possessing
bacteriological laboratories was discussed. It was pointed out that the benefits which
could reasonably be expected to be conferred, such as the removal of doubt, which is
not unfrequently present in the minds of the patients' friends as to the nature of the
malady, especially in mild cases of diphtheria, the earlier diagnosis of doubtful cases of
enteric fever, together with a probable reduction in the number of cases wrongly
diagnosed as enteric fever and diphtheria which are removed to the various fever
hospitals, would be an ample return for the small expenditure incurred. Upon the
recommendation of the committee an arrangement was entered into with the
authorities of the London Hospital, and Dr. Bulloch, the bacteriologist of that
institution, is now carrying out such examinations as may be required for the Borough.
All that medical practitioners desirous of obtaining bacteriological examinations in the
case of patients resident in Shoreditch have to do, is to apply to the medical officer of
health, at the Town Hall, for the necessary outfit, which is furnished together with
instructions for the collection of specimens, and the address of the bacteriologist. On
the specimen being obtained, it is forwarded by the medical practitioner to the
bacteriologist, and the result of the examination is communicated to the practitioner,
through the medical officer of health, in the course of about four and twenty hours.
The procedure is similar to that already adopted in some of the other Metropolitan
sanitary districts.
Up to the end of the year four examinations were made in diphtheria cases, the
results in two, being positive as to the presence of the bacillus of diphtheria.
DISINFECTION.
During the year 1900 disinfection was carried out at 909 premises. The number
of articles removed to the Borough disinfecting station and disinfected, amounted to
12,285, and included 905 beds, 1,700 pillows, 843 palliases, 639 bolsters, and 8,198
miscellaneous articles. There were 7 beds, 4 palliases, and one pillow, which it was
necessary to destroy, as they were so contaminated, and in such bad condition that it
was not thought advisable to return them. These were replaced by new ones at the
expense of the Borough. No instance of any damage caused by the measures taken
for the disinfection of the premises, or articles removed for disinfection, came under
my notice during the year, and so far as could be judged the results of the measures as
to disinfection taken were satisfactory. The numbers of premises and articles
disinfected in previous years are set forth in last year's annual report.
There was the usual distribution of disinfecting powder at the Town Hall, and
some 26 gallons of carbolic disinfecting fluid were used for flushing house drains and
urinals, and in connection with the public mortuary.