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46
Group laboratory 1945 1944
Archway, Highgate 45,889 38,115
Lambeth 40,028* 35,471*
Lewisham (including Joyce
Green, Dartford) 60,636 43,994
Mile End 35,334 29,802
North-Western, Hampstead 44,509 51,027
St. Mary Abbots, Kensington 31,584 27,007
Southern, Hither Green 16,676 12,613
Total 274,656 238,029
*Exclusive of 29,286 examinations in 1945 and 35,867 in 1944 undertaken for St. Thomas's V.D.
clinic.
The number of post-mortem examinations carried out by the Central Histological
Laboratory staff during the year was 1,216 (1,101 in 1944) and the number of
histological examinations carried out in the laboratory was 27,858 (26,512 in 1944).
In addition to the bacteriological work, the Southern Group Laboratory provided
culture media, etc., for the British, American and other allied armies and for the
Ministry of Health's emergency pathological service, as well as for all the Council's
own hospitals. The amounts supplied during the year are as follows:—
Culture media 37,351 litres
Stains and chemical solutions 6,952 „
Vaccines 52,284 c.c.s.
Grouping sera for blood transfusion 26,296 tubes
Sterile sulphonamides 16,496 bottles
Tuberculin for Mantoux test 7,309 c.c.s.
Intravenous solutions 46,729 litres
Measles serum, Adult 24,560 c.c.s.
„ „ Convalescent 2,450 „
Kahn and Wassermann antigen 81,305 „
Sterile distilled water for penicillin admin2,850 litres
istration
Hospital
laboratories
The total number of specimens examined in the hospital laboratories, as distinct
from the group laboratories, during the year was 296,345 (230,935 in 1944), and
1,696 post-mortem examinations (2,340 in 1944) were carried out in addition to
those by the pathologists.
General
During the year, 18 students of the London School of Medicine for Women
attended the group laboratory at Archway Hospital for a two months' course of
practical pathology and facilities were given for them to attend post-mortem
examinations and to make use of the museum of collected specimens at the
histological laboratory.
Facilities were granted to a voluntary worker for experimental work at one
of the hospital laboratories in the production of crude penicillin.
In 1944, an investigation on the control of dust-borne streptococcal infection
in measles wards was conducted by Dr. Joyce Wright of the Medical Research
Council in co-operation with the pathologist in charge of the group laboratory and
the medical superintendent of the North Western Hospital. Their report was
printed in the British Medical Journal (6th May, 1944, Vol. i, p. 611). Early in
1945, the Medical Research Council asked that the investigation might be continued
and facilities were granted for Dr. Joyce Wright to continue her work at the Eastern
Hospital in co-operation with the medical superintendent.
The investigation into gastro-enteritis which was begun at North Eastern
Hospital in 1944 was continued throughout the year.
The importance of Rhesus grouping, in connection with the blood transfusion
service, has become more generally recognised and nearly 3,000 tests were undertaken
during the year at the group laboratory at Lewisham Hospital.
In addition to their ordinary work the group laboratories undertook the supply
of penicillin to neighbouring hospitals.