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68
Urines were also examined microscopically and chemically for pus
phosphates, oxalates, blood, albumen, and casts.
Since the opening of the Lambeth Municipal Bateriological Laboratory,
several very interesting special investigations have been carried
out by the Medical Officer of Health, in addition to the ordinary daily
routine departmental work. These special investigations are worthy
of being recorded as follows
1. An outbreak of skin disease, known medically as Javus
amongst three children of a family living in Coldharbour
Lane, was traced to the same disease in mice, two of
which were caught and examined, the infection being
proved bacteriologically to be due to the achorion Schonleinii
(favus skin disease). The cat in the same house was.
also found to be suffering (round its mouth) from the
same disease. It was found that the children were accustomed
to play with mice of which some were infected and
which were sufficiently tame to be accustomed to feed
from the children's hands in the front of the fire in the
dusk of the evenings. In that way, the children were
directly infected. The cat had evidently had some closer
relationship (mouth relationship) with an infected mouse,,
or mice, to account for its own particular local infection
2. An outbreak of food poisoning (paratyphoid B bacillus) in
connection with a large family in Brixton was traced to its
source to a "carrier" of that particular disease-germ, the
mother of the household, who in cooking the Sunday's
joint, had, unknowingly, infected or inoculated, indirectly,
the whole of the inmates of such household, nine persons
in all, of whom two died, in connection with whose
autopsies the particular germ (the paratyhoid B bacillus)
was found in various organs, The actual infecting medium
was proved to be gravy, which was served hot with the
joint of beef (the Sunday joint). It may be added that, in
the course of the inquests, the Coroner complimented the
Borough Council's officials upon the energetic and careful
way in which the bacteriological investigations had been
carried out.
3. In connection with an outbreak of diphtheria and pseudo-
diphtheria at a large lesidential institution for boys and
girls situated in Ferndale Road, and belonging to the City
of London Corporation, the deposit from the bath wastes
was found on microscopical and bacteriological examination
to consist of skin scales, soap, hairs, and dirt, together with
the following germs, which were isolated, after cultivation
with portions of the deposit upon nutrient plates:—Pseudo-