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52
From 25th September onwards, smears of all diphtheria
swabs were examined directly. Up to the end of the year, 732
were so examined, 670 being negative. Of the remaining 62, 24
were positive on direct examination and a further 38 were positive
on culture, although negative on direct examination.
In spite of the additional work entailed for Mr. West the
practice has been continued in view of the fact that on the 24
cases the diagnosis was established at least 17 to 18 hours earlier
than under the old arrangements with an equal acceleration in
the time at which antitoxin was given to the patient.
In addition, 180 specimens of Urine were examined as compared
with 161 in 1933.
A total of 5,219 tubes of culture media were made by Mr.
West and of these 2,160 were sent to the Sanatorium.
The Essex County Council also provide facilities for
examination of pathological specimens and the County Medical
Officer states that 692 specimens were examined for local Practitioners
during 1934 as follows:—
Diphtheria Swabs, 66; Sputa, 566; Typhoid Specimens, 13;
Ringworm Specimens, 7; Miscellaneous Specimens, 40; Diphtheria
Virulence Tests, 8.
The total for the previous year was 763.
VARIOLA MINOR.
One case was notified during 1934. The patient was a male
aged 29, working for himself as a rag and bone merchant. He
was unvaccinated and the source of infection was unknown.
Although he had traded in the district for some three days
while infectious, no further cases came to light.
Approximately half a ton of rags was disinfected in Walthamstow
and another large quantity was disinfected in a Yorkshire
town to which they had been sent before the case was discovered.
VACCINATION.

In addition to the above, 133 primary vaccinations were
recorded, and 13 revaccinations.