View report page

170
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
The Bacteriological Laboratory has proved of great service
during 1908—a total of 718 examinations having been
carried out. The local and central position of the Laboratory
is specially advantageous, enabling the results of examinations
to be quickly obtained at a minimum cost.
The Laboratory was originally fitted up by the late Vestry
in 1899, and since then (up to the end of 1908) 7148* examinations
have been made, viz.:—Tuberculosis 1721,
Typhond Fever 710, Diphtheria 4609, and Others 108.
The total 718 bacteriological examinations carried out
during 1908 deal with 163 sputa (suspected consumption),
39 bloods (suspected typhoid fever), 507 throat and nose
membranes and discharges (suspected diphtheria) and 9 other
materials, e.g., pus (gonococci) 1, deep well water 1, soda
water 6, pus (tubercle) 1.
Details are as follow:
Tuberculosis—
163 samples of sputa from doubtful tuberculosis cases
have been examined, and in 42 (i.e., 25.8 per cent.) tubercle
bacilli have been found, in 2 cases mixed with blood cells
and pus cells, respectively. In 121 instances (i.e., 74.2 per
cent.), no tubercle bacilli were found, but in 2 instances
the pneumococcus (Friedlanderi), in 1 the pneumococcus
(Friedlanderi) and streptococci, in 3 lung tissue, in 1 blood,
in 5 pus, and in 1 toruloe and sarcinœ, were found.
Consumption (with tuberculous expectorations) was made
voluntarily notifiable throughout the Borough and on (and
after) June 1st, 1902. By means of bacteriolcgical examinations,
greater exactitude in diagnosis is secured.
*1899—389; 1900—703; 1901—479; 1902—466; 1905-525; 1904-447;
1905—1874; 1906—761; 1907—786; 1908—710. Total—7148.