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11
Bacteriological Aids to Diagnosis.—Copies of reports have been
received on the examination of 36 specimens, viz.:—

Disinfection.
The question arose during the year as to the best method of disinfecting
rooms after cases of infectious disease, and I reported to the Council on the
subject, advising that where rooms had been occupied for many weeks by
cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis or Cancer, the walls should be stripped and
scraped and the ceilings cleansed and that this procedure was also desirable
after Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, or Cerebro-spinal Fever
where the walls and ceilings were in a dirty condition, but that in cases
where the conditions were clean and satisfactory it was sufficient to disinfect
by means of moist spray and vapour. I pointed out however, that it is
desirable to let the manner of disinfection be as far as possible in proportion
to the persistency of the particular disease for which disinfection is required.
In June there was some discussion as to delay on the part of some
Medical Practitioners in injecting anti-toxin in cases of Clinical Diphtheria
before confirmation by bacteriological examination and at the request of the
Council I drafted and had sent out a circular letter reminding Medical
Practitioners of the facilities afforded by the Council for obtaining and
administering anti-toxin where advisable.
At the end of 1914 the Council had under consideration the advisability
of applying to the Local Government Board for sanction to the permanent
continuance of the arrangement under which Medical Practitioners who
have been in attendance on cases of infectious disease previous to the patient
being admitted to the Isolation Hospital, have visited their paitients on
their return and reported to me on their condition, the Council paying a
fee of 2/6 for each report sent to me. Application was duly made to the
Local Government Board who gave their sanction to the continuance of the
payments until they should otherwise direct.
In June the matter was again before the Council and it was decided to
carry out this arrangement in regard to Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria for
the twelve months ending June, 1916.
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