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Bacteriological examinations of water numbered 2,972 which is an increase
of 735 over last year. It is the practice now in all laboratories to test samples
of water taken from the actual source of supply in addition to samples from
taps, etc., as drawn by the consumer. This practice is necessary in view of the
age of certain distributing systems. It is now understood by all that no result
on drinking water for troops is satisfactory unless there are no faecal B.
Coli present in 100 cc. of the samples submitted. Chemical examinations of
water are comparatively rarely asked for and numbered 159 as compared
with 338 last year. Bacteriological examinations of milk were asked for on
more occasions than last year and numbered 395.
There were 874 dark ground examinations for the presence of T. pallida
in scrapings but as the total number of positives or negatives from cases
eventually diagnosed as syphilis were not recorded by all laboratories, it has
not been possible to assess these results. The diagnosis of primary syphilis by
means of Wassermann reaction or by the demonstration of the presence of T.
pallida has been referred to previously.
The high figure of 10,702 was reached in cultural examinations of urine
which included nearly 1,500 examinations carried out in Kasauli in connection
with the investigation of carrier of organisms of the Enteric Group. From
the total number of specimens examined in all laboratories B. Coli was isolated
on 446 occasions. Again this year the District Laboratory, Rawalpindi was
responsible for the greatest number of isolations.
There were 349 examinations of scrapings from cases suspected of suffering
from tropical sores. Leishman Donovan bodies being found in 80 instances,
of which 57 were demonstrated in the District Laboratory, Quetta. This
figure is much less than last year when 170 examinations were positive and is
interesting in view of the fact that during 1938 there was an increase in the
admission rate for sandfly fever.
The quantities of serum and agglutinable suspensions issued to laboratories
by the Enteric Laboratry, Kasauli were as follows. Agglutinating sera 4,500
ccs. Standard agglutinable suspensions 65,000 ccs. Concentrated agglutinable
suspensions 11,000 ccs.
Owing to the simplification of the serological diagnostic methods employed
for the Enteric Group of Fevers with the adoption of the Felix method only
for this work the quantities of the various agglutinable suspensions issued
to laboratories is considerably less than last year. The preparation of the
Vi-antigens involves much more work, than the preparation of 'H' or 'O'
antigens and the time saved by the smaller requirements of Standard Agglu-
tinable Suspensions has been more than taken up by these new productions.
Apart from the work of supplying these standard products to Military
Laboratories the-majority of the Medical Schools and larger Civil Institutions
in the country apply to this laboratory for sera, suspensions and type cultures.
Tissues sectioned and reported on totalled 619 which included a large
number of reports on tumours. In addition a total of 194 sections were made
from the brains of horses, jackals, monkeys and dogs suspected of having
suffered from rabies. Negri bodies were demonstrated on 76 occasions. New
methods for staining sections of this nature were suggested by three officers
in their annual reports, these are being tried out at present and will be
referred to in next year's report.