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150
1902]
BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF DIPHTHERIA, ENTERIC
FEVER AND PHTHISIS.
There has been a progressive increase in the number of specimens
examined for the diagnosis of Diphtheria, Enteric Fever and Phthisis since
their examination was first made for medical practitioners. Thus in 1898
(6 months, and not for Phthsis), 79 were examined; in 1899, 252; in 1900,
262; in 1901, 353; and in 1902, 358. These numbers are not, however,
as many as might be expected, and indeed they are largely exceeded in other
places. It must be recollected, however, that in Islington, at all events, there
are several medical men who get their examinations made through sources
other than that provided by the Council. Some do this because they do not
wish their suspicions to be made known to the Health authority until they
have been satisfied as to the real character of the disease, while again there
are others who send their specimens to be examined by those institutions to
which they had been accustomed to send them before the Council undertook
the examination.
Diphtheria.—122 examinations were made, of which 50, or 41 per cent.,
proved the presence of bacillus diphtheria.
Enteric Fever.—Out of 114 examinations made, the disease was diagnosed
in 45, or in 39*4 per cent.
Phthisis.—The examination for Koch's bacillus, or the B. Tuberculosis,
numbered 122, which is the largest number hitherto made, for in 1899 only 79
specimens were examined; in 1900, also 79; and in 1901, only 71. The
bacillus was detected in 39 instances, or in 46-9 per cent. (vide Table CVIII).