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190
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
The Bacteriological Laboratory has proved of great service during 1909—a total of 781 examinations having been
carried' out. The local and central position of the Laboratory
is specially advantageous, enabling the results of examinations to be quickly obtained at a minimum cost.
The Laboratory was originally fitted up by the late Vestry
in 1899, and since then (up to the end 1909) *7929 examinations have been made, viz.:—Tuberculosis 1907,
Typhoid Fever 742, Diphtheria 5160 and Others 120.
The total 781 bacteriological examinations carried' out
during 1909 deal with 186 sputa (suspected consumption),
32 bloods (suspected typhoid fever), 551 throat and nose
membranes and discharges (suspected diphtheria) and 12
other materials, e.g., milk 6, hairs 4, urine 1 cerebrospinal
fluid 1.
Details are as follow :
Tuberculosis :—
186 samples of sputa from doubtful tuberculosis cases
have been examined, and in 71 (i.e., 38.2 per cent.) tubercle
bacilli have been found, in 2 cases mixed with pus cells,
in 1 with blood cells, in 1 with elastic tissue, and in 1
with elastic tissue and pus, respectively. In 115 cases
(i.e., 61.8 per cent.), no tubercle bacilli were found, but in
2 instances the pneumococcus (Friedlanderi), in 2 blood
in 5 pus, and in 4 elastic tissue and pus were found.
Consumption (with tuberculous expectorations) was made
voluntarily notifiable throughout the Borough on (and
after) June 1st, 1902. By means of bacteriological examinations, greater exactitude in diagnosis is secured.
*1899—389; 1900—703; 1901—479; 1902-466; 1903—525; 1904—447;
1905 — 1874; 1906—761; 1907—786; 1908—710; 1909—781. Total—
7929.