Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-12-03
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H I3LES.I 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, a report of
which has been made to the governor
DR.. Ruediger says of the general
work of the laboratory.
During the year ending June 30. 4
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
q for diptheria bicilli OF this nuns
Der of throat cultures 37s were for
release and 40S for diagnosis. One
hundred and seventy mine 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-
ci11i, liz of which were positive. One
hundred and ninety specimens Of
blood were tested for the typhoid re-
action, seyenty-four Of which gave
positive reaction. One hundred and
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
a malignant cancer or from one of
the less dangerous tumors. In addi-
ton to these we examined seventy
four specimens of pus to identity the
injecting microorga forty speci-
mems of water, ffty-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
physicians and boards of health
Il through the state to get prompt and
4 accurate analyses of such material as
falls under their observation. DIR.
l.uediger 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-
fles the maintenance of the labora-
tory 1t would seem that all cities
Z and communities should regularly
Z inquire into the nature and quality
of their water supply, with a view to
& preventing possible epidemics
1 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 DR..
Ruediger, who says
1T is important that the water
should be collected under the strict
est precautions against the acciden-
Z tai Introduction of colon bacilIi or
mouth streptococco. II these organ
isms are accidentally introduced in
the collection of the sample, the bae-.
THEOLOGICAL examination will neces-
sarily be misleading and hence worse
3 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
" free from both organic and inor-
ganic matter. Another very import
4 ant point in this work is the length
of time which has elapsed from the
time of collecting the sample until IL
Is arlalyzed. The comm ttee on stan
dard methods Of water analysis of
the American Public Health associa-
ton recommends that the bacterioI-
y ogical examination should always be
made within six hours after colIec-
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 bacteriolog
examination II desired, but this time
can be some what heightened If the
& specimen Is packed In ice, but 1t
should never exceed twenty-four
hours. r. specimens are to be sent