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In the opinion of some clinicians, particularly French workers, certain types of
mental disease such as schizophrenia (dementia praecox) are due to a tuberculous
manifestation. It has therefore been claimed that the tubercle bacillus could be
isolated from the blood and cerebro-spinal fluid of these cases. Dr. Beck has
tested this hypothesis and has proved conclusively that there is no connection
between tuberculosis and schizophrenia.
He has also enquired into the demonstrability of tuberculous bacillsemia in
experimental tuberculosis, and has shown that it is possible both in human beings
and in animals to detect tubercle bacilli in the blood stream.
In order to account for the onset of certain mental diseases some authors have
stated that the bacillus coli plays an important role. Dr. Beck has carried out
work in this direction, and he has shown that the B. coli agglutination test, using
76 sera of psychotics, does not differ in any way from that observed in normal
persons. The general result of his observations would indicate that there is no
causative connection between the B. coli infections and mental diseases.
Supply of
media, etc.
inuring trie year additional products, sucn as media, vaccines, stains and
solutions have been prepared at the Southern group laboratory for issue to the
Council's hospitals and institutions (including the mental hospitals).
Various items have been added to the stock of standard laboratary apparatus
(e.g., glassware) which is kept at this laboratory for issue to the various laboratories
as required.
At the end of the year 524 different items were available for issue from this
laboratory:—
(1) Standardised laboratory apparatus (e.g., glassware) 193 items.
(2) Culture media 125 „
(3) Stock vaccines 80 „
(4) Stains and chemical solutions 71 „
(5) Agglutinating and blood grouping sera, bacterial
suspensions, tuberculin, etc. 29 „
(6) Solutions for intravenous use 26 „
During the year 97 hospitals, institutions, or departments were supplied with
material.
The work of manufacture and supply of media, vaccines, etc., has been very
much hampered by lack of accommodation, as the demands for these products have
increased considerably in the last few years. Thus, the amount of media made in
1934 was almost double that of 1932, while the amount of stains has increased by
60 per cent, over the same period. The Council has approved a scheme for the
enlargement of the laboratory and the extension, which will be completed in 1935,
will provide the much needed additional accommodation.
Substantial increases were made during 1934 over the previous year in the
issues of laboratory stores, culture media, agglutinating sera, and stock vaccines,
etc. For example, the number of containers of culture media issued (bottles and
tubes) has increased from 86,761 to 114,171; stains and solutions from 1,064 to
1,246 litres; grouping sera for blood transfusion from 2,742 to 5,520 tubes; tuberculin
for Mantoux tests, from 1,340 to 2,514 ampoules.
Since July the supply of solutions for intravenous injection, e.g., saline, glucose
and gum solution, etc., has been undertaken. The solutions are carefully prepared,
tested for sterility and toxicity, and are issued in sealed screw-capped bottles. The
demands for the solutions greatly increased towards the end of the year; and,
durine the 5 months since its inception, 118A litres in 3.293 containers were supplied
Belmont
laboratory.
Dr. R. G. White, director of the anti-toxin establishment (Belmont Laboratory),
has reported as follows:—
The temporary extension of the premises which was completed early in July relieved only
to a limited extent, and in only a section of the work, the pressure due to lack of sufficient accommodation
at these laboratories, and the fact that it was possible to supply all the demands made
upon the laboratories was to no small extent due to the manner in which the various members
of the staff continued to adapt themselves to their restricted conditions.