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This method involves the provision of assistance to medical men in making a
diagnosis of the case, and is applicable of course only in diseases in which laboratory
methods can be used in relation to diagnosis.
Syphilis has recently been shown to be one of the diseases in which special tests
can be applied, viz., to the blood in the form of what is known as Wassermann's test,
and it was determined to take advantage of this fact; to offer to carry out the test
free of charge for medical men in exchange for certain information with regard to the
patient.
Before adopting the procedure the medical men in practice in the Borough were
circularized and asked whether or not they would be prepared to make use of
facilities for the application of the test, and if they would be willing to give
information as to the age and sex of the patient and some indication of the part of the
Borough in which he resided. Without exception those who were written to agreed
to take part in the scheme.
The Committee thereupon made arrangements with Dr. Foulerton, at that time
bacteriologist at Middlesex Hospital, to carry out the test. Each medical practitioner
was provided with a special outfit, and it was arranged that all specimens and
information should be addressed to the Medical Officer of Health, and should be sent
on by him to Dr. Foulerton.
In all 120 specimens were examined. The majority of these came from
institutions, chiefly the Workhouse Infirmary. The total number from male patients
was 66 and from females 54. Several of the specimens were from children, but the
greater number were from adults in the age groups 25-45, and 45-65.
The number giving a positive result was 38; of these 20 were males and 18
females.
With regard to these proportions it should be noted that the test is applied to a
specimen of the patient's blood, and collection of the specimens is not always easy.
This fact may be taken to be the reason for the smallness of the number of
specimens sent in, but as the scheme is to be continued it is probable that greater use
will be made of the facilities, and figures with regard to which comment may be made
will be obtained.
DISINFECTION.
As is shown in the following tables, there was a considerable increase in the
amount of work done in this connection during 1914. The methods employed during
the greater part of the time were substantially the same as in previous years, articles
suitable for treatment by steam were dealt with in the Goddard, Massey and Warner
Disinfector at the Disinfecting Station, while for rooms formalin tablets, 30 per 1000
cubic feet of space, were generally employed.
The number and nature of the articles disinfected are shown in the following
table:—