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205
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
The Bacteriological Laboratory has proved of great service
during 1910—a total of 605 examinations having been
carried out. The local and central position of the Laboratory
is specially advantageous, enabling the results of examinations
to foe 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 1910) *8534 examinations
have been made, viz. :—Tuberculosis 2080,
Typhoid Fever 786, Diphtheria 5537 and Others 131.
The total 605 bacteriological examinations carried out
during 1910, deal with 173 sputa (suspected consumption),
44 bloods (suspected typhoid fever), 377 throat and nose
membranes and discharges (suspected diphtheria) and 11
other materials, e.g., hairs 10, deposit from bath waste 1.
Details are as follow :
Tuberculosis :—
173 samples of sputa from doubtful tuberculosis cases
have been examined, and in 77 (i.e., 44.5 per cent.) tubercle
bacilli have been found, in 7 cases mixed with pus cells,
in 1 with blood cells, and in 1 with elastic tissue and
blood, respectively. In 96 cases (i.e., 55.5 per cent.) no
tutbercle bacilli were found, but in 2 instances the pneumococcus
(Friedlanderi), in 4 blood in 2 pus, and in 2 elastic
tissue were found.
Consumption (with tuberculous expectorations) was made
voluntarily notifiable throughout the Borough. on (and
after) June 1st, 1902, and Consumption compulsorily notifiable
under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1908, o-n and after January 1st, 1909, so far as Poor Law
*1899—389; 1900—703; 1901—479; 1902—466; 1903—525; 1904—447;
1905—1874 ; 1906—761; 1907—786; 1908-710; 1909—781; 1910—609
Total—8538.
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