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Plague human.—There was a fall of nearly 15 per cent in the number of
specimens sent but the percentage of positive finds was almost the same, 39.4.
Considerably fewer unsuitable specimens were sent and, should this state of affairs
continue, it will be a matter for congratulation.
Plague animal. —The number of specimens sent rose from 276 last year to
298 this year, or very nearly 8 per cent, but there was a very marked fall, 29 per
cent, in the number of positive finds as compared with 46 per cent of last year.
Blood for Widal's reaction. —The specimens for this examination showed a
rise of 58 or over 9 per cent, but the positive finds showed the low number of 37
per cent as against 63.6 per cent of last year. There was a very marked fall to
16.9 per cent in those specimens showing the reaction at the higher dilution of
1–96 while those showing it only at a dilution of 1–32 formed 19.8 per cent of the
total.
Paratyphoid " A ."—There was not a single positive reaction to this test out
of the 110 specimens submitted. Adding to this the number of tests made in the
previous two years, we get a total of 477, only one of which gave the reaction at
the lower dilution of 1–32. As no case of the paratyphoid reactions has been
unaccompanied by a higher typhoid reaction, the uselessness of the paratyphoid
test, especially the paratyphoid " A " test, is apparent.
Paratyphoid " B ."—Six out of a 109 gave a positive reaction at the lower
dilution of 1–32. This works out 5.5 per cent.
Bloods for the Wassermann reaction. —There was another considerable rise in
the number of specimens sent for this test, viz., 846 or 9 per cent more than last
year. Of these 295 or 34.8 per cent were positive. There is again a very marked
fall in the percentage of positive cases which would seem to point to the presump
-tion made last year being probably correct.
Malta fever. —None of the three specimens sent gave a positive result. So
the recrudescence of this condition in Madras was short lived.
Blood films for malarial parasites. —Here we have a remarkable fall in the
number of specimens sent and a still more remarkable fall in the number of
positive finds. The number of specimens sent fell from 734 to 535 or by nearly
27 per cent while the finds were only 11.8 per cent as against 18.8 per cent last
year.
An examination of Leucocytosis is not often called for and only one out of
nine such cases gave a confirmation of the diagnosis.
Differential counts were called for on 11 occasions but it is very seldom that
characteristic indications are derived from this examination.
Blood and blood cultures for Kola-Azar.— Seventeen of such specimens were
sent and a positive find was made in three, 17.6 per cent.
Blood for filaria; Blood in taurocholate medium for typhoid. —All specimens
gave a negative result.
Sputum for Tubercle bacilli.—Nine out of 88 such specimens or 10.2 per cent
showed the presence of these bacilli. This constitutes a considerable rise in the
number, 49 per cent, but a fall of 6.6 per cent in the positive finds.
Discharges for gonococci. —The number of cases rose from 57 to 73, a rise of 28
per cent and the percentage of positive finds from 31.6 to 34.2.
Specimens for Lepra bacilli. —The number of specimens submitted fell by over
50 per cent, but the number of positive finds remained the same and constituted
40 per cent of the specimens.
Stools and vomits for cholera vibrios. —There was a very large increase under
this heading, the number rising from 4 to 51. In 24 or 47 per cent of the total,
vibrios were isolated.
Urine and stools for typhoid bacilli. —Eleven specimens were sent and all gave
negative results. Unless material of this description can be examined daily for
prolonged periods, success is not likely to result. As such continued examinations
would be quite impossible as a routine procedure the sending of isolated specimens
should be discontinued.
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