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tubes mentioned above, and transmit to the Medical Officer
of Health, who would be able, in the majority of cases, to
furnish the Medical Attendant with the result of the
bacteriological examination within forty-eight hours. The
cost of each "Outfit" complete is (in quantity) Sixpence
or less.
The value of these bacteriological examinations, more
especially in connection with Diphtheria and Typhoid, has
been practically proved by Authorities who have already
adopted the method mentioned above (e.g., State of New
York, Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester,
Newcastle, Sheffield, and several Metropolitan
Districts, e.g., St. Pancras, St. Marylebone, Islington,
Clerkenwell, Fulham, Stoke Newington, Lee, Strand,
Holborn, St. Olave's, etc.) in the following cases: (1)
Suspected Diphtheria throats or other doubtful cases of
throat diseases, and doubtful Typhoid cases, which are
proved, by bacteriology, to be true infectious diseases; (2)
Diphtheria cases about which it is desirable to know when
the patients may return (with safety to others) to school,
work, etc.: (3) Cases of doubtful Diphtheria or Typhoid
which are at present sent to hospital, and prove afterwards
to be ordinary, or non-infectious, sore throats or non-typhoid
(with subsequent danger of the real diseases being contracted);
(4) Doubtful cases of Diphtheria and Typhoid,
which are notified at present and for which the notification
fees are paid, though the disease may not be a notifiable
one, and the expenses in connection with disinfection and
isolation consequently needlessly incurred. In short, errors
of diagnosis are lessened in quantity, and earlier and more
exact diagnosis ensured.
The bacteriological examinations could be carried out
for the Vestry at some well-known Laboratory, several of
which are to be found in London, at a cost of 2s. 6d.
(about) each case; but, as an alternative course, I would
suggest that, for the present, they might be made by your
own Medical Officer of Health—in which latter case it would
be necessary to fit up bacteriological apparatus (microscopes,
incubators, etc.), complete at an initial cost of £50,
A room at the Wanless Road Disinfecting Station might,
with advantage, be used, and can readily be spared, for