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75
REPORT UPON THE WORK OF THE
PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY
FOR THE YEAR 1938.
During 1938, the Pathological Unit at the Barking
Isolation Hospital has completed two years of activity
since its opening. On reviewing this year's work, it
is gratifying to report that not only has it maintained
its degree of utility but has considerably increased its
output as compared with last year—over 300 more
investigations were carried out in 1938 than in 1937.
It has consolidated its position and has widened its
scope of activity without encroaching upon the province
of the County's Scheme. The Unit is no longer looked
upon somewhat as a curiosity, but has settled into the
Public Health landscape and is generally accepted as an
essential item of the Borough's many amenities.
Again many patients from the clinics have been
able to undergo a wide variety of blood tests, without
having to give up a great deal of time to journeys to
London Hospitals, and in this connection the cooperation
of the various Medical Officers has been very
satisfactory. A number of school children have also
been examined for anæmia, hæmophilia and other
blood disorders, as a result of queries arising from school
medical inspections. By reason of the existence of a
local laboratory these children have lost only a minimum
of school attendance.
There is still a great deal of anaemia among the working
class women, but the school children of the Borough,
even those in the most reduced circumstances, are very
rarely anaemic as compared with their less fortunate
mothers. It is certain that in twenty years' time
and more, these children will still be reaping the benefit