View report page

27
LABORATORY SERVICE.
The examination of clinical material of public health significance
is carried out free of cost to the patient and to the doctor at the Central
Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London, N.W.9. Tel. No.
Colindale 6041 and 4081. Most samples submitted are throat swabs for
the presence of organisms of diphtheria or of the hæmolytic streptococcus.
Another group of samples is of dejecta for the presence of organisms of
the typhoid or dysentery group. Specimens of sputa are submitted
for examination for the presence of tubercle bacillus. Blood serum is
sent for examination of the reaction indicating the infection of the body
by the typhoid group. Cough plates are examined for the presence of
the organisms of whooping cough. In general the examination is carried
out of material which will be of aid in the early diagnosis of infectious
conditions, one purpose of the laboratory being to carry out investigations
of public health significance.
It is not intended that other clinical material shall be sent, this
work being carried out at the laboratories of certain hospitals. The
laboratory does not deal in the ordinary way with the examination of
specimens of those suspected to be suffering from venereal disease, which
are sent to hospitals which provide clinics for the treatment of those
suffering from these diseases.
Apart from the examination of this clinical material, the laboratory
also carries out the routine bacteriological examination of such foods as
milk or ice-cream, and examines other food stuffs considered possibly to
have been the source of a food poisoning. The staff of the laboratory
also carry out investigations in the field in the case of various forms of
outbreak, however spread.
Another service provided by the laboratory is the issue of certain
preparations such as lymph for vaccination against smallpox, and antigens
for the immunisation of the population against diphtheria.
The clinical material is collected each day by a van sent from the
laboratory calling about mid-day at the Harrow Hospital, the Public
Health Office, "Cottesmore," and the Central Fire Station, Pinner.
The following is a summary of the examinations of material from this
district, carried out during the year: nose and throat swabs, 567; fæces,
40; sputum, 21; pertussis, 11; milk, 32; ice-cream, 44, and water, 3.
Miscellaneous, 70.