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107
1898
After careful inquiries, he came to the conclusion that the
Bacteriological Examination for Diphtheria, and the application of
Widal's test to the blood drawn from patients suffering from Enteric
Fever would not cost more than about £25 per annum. He, therefore,
recommended the Public Health Committee to have these examinations
made, and they unanimously approved of his suggestion. Consequently
he was enabled to issue a circular letter to the Medical Profession
informing its members that an arrangement had been made with
the Jenner Institute of Preventive Medicine to make the necessary
examinations at half-a-crown per case, but free of charge to them.
From that date to the end of the year 31 examinations were made for
Diphtheria and 47 for Enteric Fever at a cost of £9 l5s. to the Vestry.
The Medical Practitioners in Islington have been greatly gratified
with the results obtained and have hailed the action of the Public
Health Department with very great delight.
On the 19th of December, the writer in the following report urged
the Public Health Committee to go one step further and cause
Bacteriological Examinations to be made for the diagnosis of Phthisis,
free of charge to practitioners.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Sir, Madam and Gentlemen,
BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS.
I am pleased to be able to report that the bacteriological examination for
the diagnosis of Diphtheria, and the application of the Widal test for Enteric Fever, have
been taken advantage of in 73 instances. The former has been made in 28 instances, and the
latter in 45. The cost to the Vestry has been £9 2s. 6d., a very small expenditure when it is
considered that it has settled the diagnosis of these cases.
As an example of its great usefulness, I may mention, that only on Friday last I
received a letter from Dr. S.-, who had under his care two doubtful cases of throat
affection, thanking me for the information that they were Diphtheria.
I think I might now urge on you to go one step farther to enable practitioners to
diagnose another disease, which, although not one of the zymotic diseases, is of the
tirst importance to recognize in its earliest stage, namely, Phthisis, for at this period it