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Section B.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Laboratory Facilities.
These are as described in previous reports. During the year much help
was given in the examination of swabs, etc., by Dr. Maclntyre, our newly
appointed Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
We would like to point out here that further facilities are necessary in
the widening scope of bacteriology appertaining to the Borough, and it is
necessary to point out at this juncture that these facilities should be provided
unless the Council make up their minds to spend quite a sum of money in
rendering up-to-date the present rather obsolete plant.
Many authorities are now transferring such services to the pathological
departments of General Hospitals in their vicinity, and in this respect the
advice of the Specialist Staff is considered invaluable.
In the event of the Food and Drugs Act falling to the lot of the Council
an extension of the facilities will be necessary and further help required.
The following examinations were carried out during 1937:—
Swabs for Diphtheria:—
Positive. Negative. Total.
From suspected cases 75 961 1,036
,, contacts 32 536 568
,, carriers and old cases 8 20 28
115 1,517 1,632
Not
Present, found. Total.
Sputa for the presence of tubercle baccillus 6 57 63
Hairs for the presence of the parasite of ringworm nil 1 1
Smears from the eyelids for the presence of the gonococcus was made
in one case with a negative result.
During the year the following material was sent to the Clinical Research
Association for bacteriological examination:—
Positive. Negative. Total.
Swabs for virulence of Diphtheria organisms nil 2 2
Blood for presence of Typhoid organisms 2 4 6
Faeces for presence of Typhoid organisms nil 7 7
Faeces for presence of Dysentery organisms 17 3 20
Swabs for presence of haemolytic streptococci 1 5 6
Vaginal swabs for presence of Gonococci nil 8 8
Designated milks are sent to the Counties' Public Health Laboratories.
The results of these examinations were:—
Passed. Failed. Total.
Tuberculin Tested Milk 29 8 37
Pasteurised Milk 20 3 23
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