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67
The samples of sputum increased with the coming into force of
the various sets of Tuberculosis Regulations, viz., the Public Health
(Tuberculosis) Poor Law, 1908 (pulmonary iub(rculosis), which came
into force on January 1st, 1909; the Public Health (Tuberculosis)
Hospitals, 1911 (pulmonary tuberculosis), which came into force on
May 1st, 1911; the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Private Cases, 1911
(pulmonary tuberculosis), which came into force on January 1st, 1912;
and the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Consolidated, 1912 {allforms of
tuberculosis), which came into force on February 1st, 1913. The
nstitution of the " Sanatorium benefit"' (1911) for insured persons also
increased the number of sputums examined at the Laboratory as well
as at the two Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, or consumption, had been voluntarily
notifiable throughout the Borough of Lambeth since June 1st, 1902, and
such voluntary notification became compulsory under the Tuberculosis
Regulations—pulmonary tuberculosis (or consumption) under the 1908
and 1911 Regulations, and all forms of tuberculosis under the 1912
Regulations.
The diminishing numbers of samples of blood submitted in recent
years in connection with suspected " Enteric " fever are to be explained
by the comparative rarity of the disease (typhoid or paratyphoid)
within the Borough ; indeed, this particular disease may be regarded
as practically non-existent, in so far as Lambeth Borough is concerned,
though it is liable to be introduced sporadically from outside districts,
or from abroad.
Where the yearly numbers of doubtful diphtheria samples markedly
exceed the averages, this fact is to be explained by the existence of
sporadic outbreaks of diphtheria, or pseudo-diphtheria, in connection
with the Norwood Schools (Poor Law), or other institutions, necessitating
large numbers of systematic bacteriological examinations of
"contacts," e.g., during the years 1900, 1905, 1912, 1913, 1914, and
191S-
Outside the ordinary routine daily examinations for suspected germs
of tuberculosis, typhoid or enteric fever, and diphtheria, other sundry or
special examinations were connected with a variety of other cases, and
may be grouped as follows -.— Tinea tonsurans (in hairs or skin), tubercle
bacillus (in urine, pus, glands, tumours, pleuritic effusion), gonococcus
(in urine, pus, uterine and vaginal discharges), malaria spores (in
blood), sarcina ventriculi (in vomit), trichina spiralis (in ham), hydatid
(in liver), spirochceta pallida (in pus), meningococcus (in cerebrospinal
fluids, throats, and noses), anthrax bacillus (in skin discharges), o'idium
albicans (in mouth), typhoid or Shiga bacillus (in foeces), staphylococcus
and or streptococcus (in urine).
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