5
(i) The total number of specimens received was 3,458. This large number
shows the extent to which this Institute is of assistance to the medical pr
o -
fession in the diagnosis of different types of disease. The increase in the
number of specimens received for examination year by year is evidence that
this assistance is appreciated and that the value of the methods of diagnosis
employed at the Institute is becoming more generally recognized.1,939 of the
total number were received from the hospitals in Madras and 1,519 came from
the mufassal. It would appear that the district medical institutions could utilise
the services of the Institute to a greater degree than they do at present.
(ii) Widal's reaction. —The total number of sera received for Widal's reaction
to the enteric group of organisms was 612. The reaction of 266 of these was
estimated to the three organisms, B Typhosus, B Paratyphosus A and B.
Paratyphosus B and 346 to B Typhosus alone.
Of the 266 cases examined to all three organisms 145 were negative and
121 were positive, 110 reacting in the highest dilution with B. Typhosus, 3 with
B. Paratyphosus A and 8 with B Paratyphosus B. The great preponderance of
true typhoid fever as compared with the fevers due to the paratyphoid group is
thus demonstrated.
(iii) Wasserman reaction. —1,636 specimens of blood were examined for
Wasserman reaction. This test is perhaps the most intricate of the bacteriologi
-
c a l t e s t s i n c o m m o n u s e . A d e f i n i t e c h a n g e i n t e c h n i q u e h a s b e e n m a d e d u r i n g
the year. The method lately recommended by the Medical Research Committee
in England has been adopted with excellent results. When the time and skill
to prepare the necessary immune sera and to carry out the test are considered,
the results which have been achieved reflect great credit upon those who have
been engaged upon this work.
(iv) Macerated fætera.—Fifty-four specimens were received for examination
for spirochætes. Table VI gives in detail the result of the examination. In the
latter half of the year an attempt was made to correlate the presence of syphilis
in the mother with the finding in the fœtus by means of a Wasserman reaction.
The number of cases in which both examinations were performed is as yet too
small to allow of any definite conclusions being drawn. There is some evidence,
however, to show that failure to find spirochætes in the fœtus does not necessarily
negative syphilis as being the cause of the condition, for the blood of three of the
mothers gave a positive Wasserman reaction where examination of the fœtus
failed to demonstrate the presence of spirochætes.
Examinations of the other specimens call for no comment.
TABLE VI.
Results of examination of 54 macerated fœtera.
N u m b e r .
Number
of
pre
g - n a n c y .
History of former
pregnancies.
Result of
examination for
spirochætes.
Wasserman
reaction on
mother's blood.
Remarks.
1
?
Natural . . . Positive . . . Not done.
2 Third . . . Not furnished . . .
Do. . . .
Do.
3 Ninth . . . Eighth and ninth macerated
fœtera ; rest normal.
Do. . . .
Do.
4 Second . . . Natural . . .
Do. . . .
Do
5 Fourth . . . All premature but not mace
-rated.
Do. . . .
Do.
6 Third . . . Natural . . .
Do. . . . Positive (moderate).
7 Eighth . . . Two still-born and the rest
died in infancy.
Do. . . .
Not done.
8 Second . . . First pregnancy—Eighteen
months
ago—macerated
fœtus.
Do. . . .
Positive (strong).
9 Seventh . . . Natural . . .
Do. . . . Not done.
10
Do. . . . Fifth pregnancy; still-born . . .
Do. . . .
Do.
11 Second . . . Natural . . .
Do. . . .
Do.
12 First
Premature
labour
(ninth
month).
Negative . . .
Positive (strong).