Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-12-03
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HEALTH LABORATORY WORK.

HEALTH LABORATORY WORK.
The state health laboratory at the
university at Grand Forks, establish
ed by virtue of an appropriation
made two years ago and conducted
by Dr. G. F. Ruediger, has done a
large amount of work in the fiscal
year ended June 80, last, report OF
which has been made to the governor
DR.. Ruediger says of the general
work of the laboratory.
During the year ending June 80,
1908, we have examined at the labor
atory, and given reports on 1928 bac-
THEOLOGICAL and pathological speci-
mems from all over the state. Seven
hundred and eighty-seyen of these
were throat cultures to be examined
for diptheria bicilli. OF this num-.
her of throat cultures 379 were for
release and 40S for diagnosis. One
hundred and seventy nine of the last
mentioned lot were found to contain
diptheria bacilli and 229 did not con-
tain them. There were asa specimens
of sputum examined for tubercle ba-
cilli, 116 of which were positive. One
hundred and ninety specimens of
blood were tested for the typhoid re-
action, seyenty-four of which gave a
~ h RI nj
twenty of the specimens were pieces
of tissue which had been removed at
operations. These tissues were exam
ined to determine if they are from
malignant cancer or from one of
the less dangerous tumors. In addf-
tion to these we examined seventy
four specimens of pus to identity the
injecting microorg forty speci-
mems of water, fifty-nine specimens
of urine, ten specimens of stomach
contents, eight dogs heads, which
were examined for rabies. The re-
mainder were specimens of blood
faces, milk and cream
There can be no question of the
practical value of some such labora-
tory as this, established by the state,
scientifically conducted, and enabling
4 physicians and boards of health
through the state to get prompt and
accurate analyses of such material as
falls under their observation DR..
lsuediger tells also in his report of
the various anlyses of drinking water
that have been made, and this work
alone is highly important and justi-
fies the maintenance of the labora-
tory. It would seem that all cities
and communities should regularly
Y inquire into the nature and quality
of their water supply, with a view to
preventing possible epidemics
through unsupported pollution of the
water. Some of the difficulties in the
way of getting an accurate and relia-
BILE test Of water are set forth by DIR.
q Ruediger, who says:
1T is important that the water
should be collected under the strict
est precautions against the aeeiden-
tai Introduction of color bacilli or
mouth streptococco. If these organ
isms are accidentally introduced in
the collection of the sample, the bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination will neces-
sarily be misleading and hence worse
than worthless. For a chemical ex-
animation also it is very important
that the containers in which the wa
ter is collected should be absolute
liz free from both organic and inor-
ganic matter. Another very import
ant point In this work is the length
of time which has elapsed from the
time Of collecting the sample until II
is analyzea The committee ON stan.
dard methods of water analysis oil
the American Public Health associa.
ton recommends that the bacteriol-
Ogical examination should always be
made within six hours after collec,
ton, and the chemical examination
within twenty four hours after col.
lection of the sample. This forbids
the sending Of water for great dis
tances by express If a meteorological
examination is desired, but this time
can be some what heightened If the
specimen Is packed In ice, but Il
should never exceed twenty-foul
hours. II specimens are to be sem