The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-01-25
STATE Will MAKE
FREE DIAGNOSES


March 25, 1909, there was established
at the University of Nevada, at Reno,
a State Hygienic Laboratory-for the
diagnosis Of infectious diseases and
for research The university gener-
ously offered the use of laboratory IA
cilities for this work, thereby making
possible the establishment of such SER
vice at minimum expenditure Of
money.
Inasmuch as the law states that this
service shall be organized and conduct
ed Gin the existing laboratories of the
University of Nevada and that the
work shall be under the direction of a
member Of the instruction staff, the al
Iministration of the law was, Of course,
placed in the hands of the board oe
regents of the university. The pro-
fessor of bacteriology was appointed
director and the work of the laboratory
is being done in the department of
bacteriology. The perfection Of the or
ganization for this work has been
necessarily somewhat slow, but it is at
last well along and the laboratory is
now in a position to handle the work
expeditiously.
The fundamental principle upon
which diagnostic work at the expense
of the state is based is the control of
the communicable diseases. That prin-
ciple must be kept constantly in mind
by those. charged with the administra-
tion of laws providing for such work
1t is not the object of the law to pro-
vide expert medical service without
cost to the individual but to protect
the citizens of the state against the
spread of the communicable diseases,
and, in addition to the assistance af-
forded by the prompt recognition #
such maladies, to undertake research
into their nature and cause and to de-
wise and perfect methods for their coa-
troll and ultimate eradication. Upon
that basis the public health laboratory
is frequently obliged to refuse to ex-
anime material that may be thought
lessly submitted that has no bearing on
the public health. At the same time
lmost laboratories are glad of the oppor-
ltunity to make certain number of
miscellaneous examinations, to inquire
into certain of the problems that CON
front every medical man, for it is
from such sources they must draw ma
terial for research.
For the present the Nevada State
Hygienic Laboratory will undertake
the following work at the request of
any physician or health officer in the
state on receipt of suitable material
Diphtheria.
, The laboratory will furnish the me-
cessary outfits for taking and submit
ting cultures. These outfits will con-
sist of tube containing a sterile swab
and tube of Loffier's blood serum.
In Reno and Sparks the swab tube
only win be supplied except on special
request. Detailed directions for use
will accompany each outfit.
Typhoid
: A positive Vidal reaction is consid-
cred diagnostic of typhoid fever. A
single negative reaction in any indi-
vidual case has little significance as the
time of the appearance of the reaction
varies widely. A large percentage of
cases will react between the tenth
and twentieth day. Practically all
cases react at some time in the course
of the disease or during convalesence.
. Hence single negative result, as stat
ed above, has little significance,
especially if obtained early in the
course of the disease; if late in the
course of the disease its significance
is much greater.
For this test the laboratory viii fur
nish suitable outfit for collecting and
sending material The outfit consists
of slide in a suitable mailing case
and directions for its use accompany it..
A report can be sent within few
hours after material for this test is
received.
tuberculosis.
The volue of sputum examinations
in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuber-
culosis is too obvious for discussion. 1t
has come to be part of the routine
work of every public health laboratory.
These examinations will be made on
request when sputum is received in
suitable condition. 1t is well to remem-
Der that tuberculous sputum cannot
lawfully be transmitted through the
mails unless sterilized. This is best
done by the addition of little FIVE
per cent phenol.
The laboratory will furnish suitable
receptacles for collecting and sending
this material with directions.
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