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163
[1905
BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF DIPHTHERIA, ENTERIC
FEVER, AND PHTHISIS.
During the last 7½ years the late Vestry and the present Borough Council
have made examinations of specimens of mucous and blood from cases of
Diphtheria, Enteric Fever, and Phthisis for medical practitioners, and
although this has been done gratuitously, it cannot be said that the number
examined annually has been very numerous, for while there were 252 in the
first year there were only 274 during 1904. In 1905, however, this number
increased to 421. There is, therefore, some hope that the medical men
engaged in practice in the Borough are appreciating more highly than before
the value of these diagnoses, which enable them to identify these diseases when
they are in doubt.
It is not desired that it should be understood that all the profession have
been indifferent to the offer placed at their disposal, for this is not the case, as
a great many have frequently expressed their appreciation of it to the Medical
Officer of Health and have freely availed themselves of it.
Diphtheria.—147 specimens were examined, and of these 61 gave
positive results and 86 negative. This is the largest number hitherto
examined in any one year.
Enteric Fever.—56 specimens of blood were tested, with the result
that 34 indicated the presence of the disease, while 22 gave negative
results.
Phthisis.—As many as 218 specimens of mucous were examined, as
compared with 135 in the preceding year and 136 in 1903. This increase in
the number of examinations indicates that the profession are taking
more active interest in the great question of the prevention and cure of
phthisis, which can only be accomplished with anything like certainty if the
disease is detected in its earliest stages. Of the specimens examined, the
baccilli of Tuberculosis were found in 87, while in 131 they could not be
detected.
M 2