View report page

36
BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK.
All the Bacteriological work is done in my own laboratory,
including the preparation of media, cultivation of growths, etc.

I should like to emphasize the fact that a negative result in the
case of Sputum is by no means sufficient evidence to warrant the
conclusion that Tubercle Bacilli are absent; it not infrequently
happens that five or six examinations must be made before the
Bacilli can be demonstrated.
In addition to the above, I made several Widal tests, Blood
counts, estimation of Haemoglobin, examination of pus, urine, etc.,
for various organisms, such as gonococci, B. Coli Communis, etc.,
etc.
Although the general opinion is that Hoffman's Bacillus is not
pathogenic, I must confess that I look upon it with the greatest
amount of suspicion, and I do not allow any child showing it to
return to school until two consecutive swabs taken at about one
week's interval proved Negative.
GENERAL HOUSING CONDITIONS.
It has been recognised that a shortage of houses existed in this
District, and the matter has been receiving the close attention of the
Housing Committee of the Council, as a result of which arrangements
were made for the erection of about 250 houses in different
parts of the District. Of this number 30 were to be built on a site
approved between Lavender Hill and the Cemetery, but I understand
no definite arrangements were made for the erection of the
other houses.
Overcrowding.
Considerable sub-letting took place during the War to accommodate
the large influx of workers required at the several factories
in the District. A large number of the people still remain with the