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125
It will be noted that there has been a great increase in the
number of specimens examined during the year. This increase
has mainly been caused by the outbreaks of Diphtheria at the
Infirmary and the Royal Masonic Institute for Girls. Apart from
these, however, there has been a considerable increase in the
number of specimens sent for examination by private medical
practitioners as compared with 1907. Thus the number of Tuberculosis
specimens submitted for examination were nearly twice as
many as in 1907:—
There is no doubt that this procedure has been of great assistance
in the diagnosis of doubtful cases of these dangerous infectious
diseases. It has been largely availed of by the medical men
of the district during 1908, the total number of specimens examined
during the year being 2,486, as compared with 508 in 1907.