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58
preparing and inaugurating this work, fell almost entirely
on his shoulders, and I cannot speak too highly of his
extremely valuable assistance and knowledge in this matter.
Any fresh departure always involves increased responsibility
and anxiety, and therefore the Council are to be congratulated
on having secured the services of such a valuable
addition to the staff of the Public Health Department.
Work was started in this laboratory on March nth.
During the year 775 specimens were examined. The
Assistant Medical Officer of Health took up his duties on
February 1st, and soon afterwards the work of fitting up
the laboratory was commenced. Two rooms have been
utilised on the 1st floor at No. 2, Oakfield Road. One
room facing west is used as a work room and contains an
incubator, sink and centrifuge. Another room adjoining is
used as a preparation and store room. A kitchen on the
ground floor is used occasionally and contains a dry-air and
a steam steriliser and a Koch's Inspissator. All media stains,
etc., are made in the laboratory. The convenience of having
a laboratory in the Public Health Offices is very great, as the
diagnosis can be made more quickly than by sending the
specimen to another laboratory.
DIPHTHERIA.
The following procedure is adopted for the examination
of swabs :—
A direct examination is made of a smear from the swab.
In a certain number of cases a diagnosis of Diphtheria can
be made with some certainty from this examination. A
diagnosis of Diphtheria is at once telephoned or sent to the
practitioner in charge, with a view to the immediate removal
of the patient to hospital or else early treatment with Diphtheria
Anti-toxin. In every case a culture is made on blood-