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of the Ministry of Health indicated that while the general function
which the Emergency Laboratory Services would perform would
be the rapid diagnosis of outbreaks of infective disease and the
distribution of vaccines and sera to prevent their spread, it was
not intended that the scheme should interfere in any way with
the operation of normal services where these could be maintained,
nor was it proposed that the service should undertake pathological
work of other kinds.
As the Clinical Research Association were in a position to
continue their laboratory work, there was no occasion to arrange
for any of the work previously sent to them to be sent to the
Emergency Laboratory. On the other hand, the service has proved
particularly useful in regard to the examination of outside bacteriological
swabs. Ordinarily, these swabs, having been taken by the
doctors, are sent by them to the Isolation Hospital, where they
were examined. Owing to the depletion of the medical staff it was
not possible to ensure that a medical officer could be at the Isolation
Hospital each morning to examine swabs. Ordinarily, the alternative
arrangement would have been the despatch of these swabs by
post, an arrangement which would have entailed an additional delay
of at least 24 hours. The services afforded by the emergency
laboratory got over this difficulty as they have undertaken the
examination of those swabs which are transmitted each day to
their laboratory by van.
The necessity of having a bacteriological laboratory closely
associated with the work of a district, or, preferably, of a region,
is one which has long been felt. Such a region would, of course,
be based not on the existing hospital sectors, which were determined
on very different considerations, but should be regions having a
common epidemiological background. The close contact which
such an arrangement would provide between the bacteriologist
and a group of field workers should prove a factor of immense
value in early recognition of outbreaks. It is to be hoped that
some such development will prove to be one of the lesser blessings
conferred by the present war.
LEGISLATION.
The following bye-laws came into force during the year :—
the bye-laws for the regulation of offensive trades and the trade
or business of fish frying; building bye-laws; and bye-laws as to
pleasure fairs.
The Motor Vehicle and Supplies and Accessories (Harrow)
Exemption Order, relative to the provisions of section 4 of the
Shops Act, 1912, in regard to the closing for the weekly halfholiday,
became operative during the year.
B