View report page

36
investigating the large family of germs which can be
termed generally as hasmoclastic streptococci. Here
we are collecting data which we believe may have some
results in elucidating the problems of the hospitalisation
of scarlet fever, the treatment of puerperal fever, and
perhaps the incidence of rheumatism.
The facilities offered by the Essex County Council
also continue to become better and better, and your
own scientific department is not only charged with
undertaking those examinations which can only be or
which can be better carried out locally, but also with
seeing that the various officers of the Corporation avail
themselves of the facilities which are offered by the
County, or at least that they are fully acquainted with
these facilities.
It would of course be futile for such a highly
developed laboratory as your own to do the hack work
of diphtheria swabs, which are of no value in diagnosis
and which are only of value- in helping to determine
when a person who has had diphtheria is reasonably
free from infection.
As time goes on it would be of advantage if the
facilities of this local laboratory were placed at the
service of the general medical practitioners, in the same
way as they are placed at the service of your own staff.
Personally, I would recommend this.
The Report by Dr. E. M. Hill on the work of the
Pathological Unit is one which will be read with avidity
by all those who are interested in the welfare of your
services.
That particular part of her work which deals with
the different strains of certain organisms which cause
scarlet fever, can, of course, be only fully appreciated
by those who are acquainted with all the technical