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have come. In spite of a follow-up letter to the department covering the
track itself, no satisfactory answer has been received and the matter is
still being pursued. It is quite clear that there is some centre of
potential fly infestation in the neighbourhood which should be either
got rid of or treated before the next summer season begins.
The Borough Engineer's department cooperated with us throughout
the campaign by the treatment of dustbins with a powder we supplied
containing gammexane, this being applied at the time of refuse
collection. Altogether 3f tons of gammexane oowder was used.
Laboratory facilities
As from April 1 the Council arranged with the Public Health
Laboratory Service, which is directed by the Medical Research Council,
for examinations concerning bacteriology and epidemiology in relation
to the diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious disease, to be
carried out by that service at Dr. Bousfield's laboratory, 134, Denmark
Hill, S.E.5. This service was in substitution for the previous arrangement
by which such examinations were carried out at St. John's
Hospital, Lewisham. Apart from examinations of nose and throat
swabs, sputum, faeces, urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, exudates, swabs
from situations other than the nose and throat, washings of infected
cavities, hair and scales for ringworm, biopsy material for trichina larvae,
and so on, the service provides for the examination of water, shell fish,
sewage, milk, icecream, retail food and certain other materials.
Specimens from general practitioners were in the main sent to the
Town Hall and taken by messenger daily to the laboratory.
Samples of milk may be submitted by the Department for examination
for pathogenic bacteria in relation to suspected cases or outbreaks
of milkborne disease; for tubercle bacilli in certain cases, and for
grading under the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations. Samples of
icecream are submitted for evidence of bacterial contamination and for
grading, whilst samples of foods offered for sale are submitted for suitability
for human consumption, for pathoganic organisms and for evidence
of bacterial toxins in relation to outbreaks of cases of suspected food
poisoning.

Since January 1, as a result of rearrangement within the Public
Health Laboratory Service, the laboratory now used is the Southern
Group Laboratory at the Park Hospital.