View report page

51
Bacteriological Examinations.
The arrangements made by the late Vestry in 1897 with the
Tenner Institute of Preventive Medicine for the bacteriological
examination of suspected material, and increasing use is
being made by medical practitioners of the facilities afforded
them of availing themselves of this important aid to diagnosis,
342 specimens being examined compared with 102, 104, and
289 in the three preceding years.
Diphtheria.
Material from 277 cases was examined, and the Klebs-Loffier
or true Diphtheria bacillus, was isolated in 92, and the
Pseudo-Diphtheritic or Hoffmann's bacillus in 28.
Enteric Fever.
Blood from 44 cases was examined, and the Widal or Typhoid
reaction was obtained in 33.
Tuberculosis.
Material from 20 cases was examined, and the bacillus of
tubercle was found in 3.
Rabies.
An examination was made of a dog which had died with
symptoms of rabies, having previously bitten three other dogs,
but nothing suggestive of rabies was discovered.
Certificates under the Customs and Inland Revenue Acts.
Under the Customs and Inland Revenue Acts of 1890 and
1891, it is provided that the assessment to inhabited house
duty of any house originally built or adapted by additions or
alterations and used for the sole purpose of providing separate
dwellings where the annual value of each dwelling shall not
amount to .£20, shall be discharged by the Commissioners acting
in the execution of the Acts relating to the inhabited house
duties, if a certificate is obtained from the Medical Officer of
Health of the district in which the house is situate that the
house is so constructed as to afford suitable accommodation for