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171
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
The Bacteriological Laboratory has proved of great service
during 1907—a total of 786 examinations having been carried
out. The local and central position of the Laboratory is specially
advantageous, enabling the results of examination to be quickly
obtained and at a minimum cost.
The Laboratory was originally fitted up by the late Vestry
in 1899, and since then (up to the end of 1907) 6430* examinations
have been made, viz:—Tuberculosis 1558, Typhoid Fever
671, Diphtheria 4102, and Others 99.
The total 785 bacteriological examinations carried out during
1907 deal with 190 sputa (suspected consumption), 48 bloods
(suspected typhoid fever), 538 throat and nose membranes and
discharges (suspected diphtheria) and 10 other materials, e.g.,
suspected anthrax 4, cancer growth 1, fceces (typhoid) 1,
urines (tubercle) 3, and bath brush head 1.
Details are as follow:—
Tubcrculosis—
190 samples of sputa from doubtful tuberculosis cases have
been examined, and in 48 (i.e., 25.3 per cent.) tubercle bacilli
have been found. In 142 instances (i.e., 74.7 per cent.), no
tubercle bacilli were found. In 2 instances the pneumococcus
(Friedlanderi) was found, in 7 lung tissue, in 4 blood, and in
5 pus.
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. Total—6430.