Evening journal., 1913-01-23
KEEPING Up FIGHT FIGHT FOR FOR LAABBOORAAT ORY

the time necessary to get a report on
a specimen sent to Newark, I will. for
illustration, say that if am called
I into a case of suspicious sore throat
say on Monday at 4 p M, swab the
patients throat. and mail specimen
al once TO Newark. nothing is done
with said specimen until Tuesday,
when the bacteriologist makes his
culture of said specimen. and his re
port does moi reach me until We'd
nesday; but by this time. If it be a
case of diphthoria without typical
symptoms and develops rapidly into
a diphtheretic Group. as so frequently
happens. and ! have delayed putting
The family to the expense OF buying
antitoxin until assured by said report
that l am dealing with a case Of diph-
thcria, It is probably too late wnen
said report reaches me. for the adj
ministration of antitoxin to saw the
patient
"With a laboratory in our city
where the culture OF specimen can
be started within a few minutes after
II is taken from the throat OF q pa
tieht. the doctor sending in such spec
linen. will get his report within twelve
hours. and can direct his treatment
: according to the significance of said
report The same vital importance
attaches 10 a prompt report in case Of
other diseases and | know Of no
stronger argument why we should
7 have a state laboratory where 1t is
most accessible. and from which bac-
, THEOLOGICAL reports may be received
, by the physicians in the shortest time
possible since this means so much TO
the life and happiness of our people.
Or Albert Robin, the author Of
, the editorial above quoted, told me
that six years ago he volunteered to
examine milk for the milk inspector
of our city, that in one year he exam
, sned 600 samples, and that during that
time there were sixteen convictions
for adulterated milk; and that there
have been practically no convictions
,, since, there having been no more ex-
aminations of the character made by
Dr. Robin.
, with the laboratory here. these
milk examinations could be regular
~ made. and would no doubt result in
our having better and safer milk.
"Snce the water Department has a
|, laboratory. II may occur TO some that
! such work as / have referred TO might
= be done by the laboratory of the
Water Department; but this would
not be feasible because the Water
}, Department laboratory is located al
4 the Weldon farm and is therefore in
= accessible
r All Departments Would Benefit.
r Neither could the Water Depart.
e ment work be conveniently or salts.
factorily done with their laboratory
e In the city, since their investigations
l. require that the laboratory be i'm
e mediately at hand. This is the prac
II tice all over the country where there
e are filtration plants.
IT, with the state laboratory located
in Wilmington, our Street and Sewe
Ie Department would use the same fol
testing road and street building ma
A. terials
lie "The meat inspector would use
1r for the investigation OF diseases
n meats. meats affected with trichina
tuhercule bacilli etc. Meat packin
IL establishments have their own labor
= atories for the examination of al
q meats they send out Much of on
i. meat is local but just ais liable
en be contaminated or diseased as
Y the meat coming from distanc
y and should for the safety of our pee
~, pie be subject TO rigid investigation
an '"rhe oil inspector could use Oh
IL laboratory for oil tests. The city d,
n partment could use Il TO test coal
Of Or Robin informs me that fiy
of years ago the Wilmington Light
al Power Company paid him IN one yea
20 $3.50 for coal analysis. Coal is ger
to orally bought on analysis and il r.
he quires analytic methods TO check u
the quality from time to time
Nv "In order that this extra and necel
A. sary work for the city may be don
the city of course. would have TO al
In propriate the necessary funds
ms meet the increased demand on ii
rs. laboratory
OF "The present annual appropriate
ne from the state is, ] am told, S3,5l
AZ from which is paid the salaries
CT the present bacteriologist and h
an assistant and for the necessai
ne equipment and supplies. With Il
eu state laboratory here. we would ha'
Cd / 10 pay ploudDiN loi rent fNNNf ioI u
81 services of an extra bacteriologi
and chemist 81 500 and for addition
a.. al maintenance $500. making in a
loo about $4,000 per year which the eli
len would have to pay, or, as IL won
he seem. ought to pay in order TO ha
Of and maintain the state laborato
ed within our limits,
for Possibly when we get our No
Ma city building place can be pr
her vided for said laboratory, and rent
saved
,ho "ln this connection I wish to S
No. in conclusion that I know of no mo
/, ie attractive feature in bringing outsi
'o,, ers to our city to engage in busine
IN here than a scientifically conduct
IA laboratory: and the establishment
- such an institution In Wilmingt
~, will be placing the benefits of su
'a "a. laboratory within the reach of all I
il"' citizens of our city. county and sta
~. while with the present location
'nu said laboratory II is OF use TO
comparatively few
70 Mayor FaYOrs Change.
ssr Following DR.. Tomlinson's RENAL
1ses endorsing the plan for a city lab
ron' atory here. Drs. Harrison w. How
n s mayor Of the city; DR.. " ID. Wa
'eis burn. Dr. James L. France, DIR. II.
,lll' Stubs. Dr. Irvine NJ. Finn. Dr.
ma w. Briggs, DR. J. Harmer Rifle {
an. DR.. Julian Adair also spoke for
l.e movement
the During the discussion il was poi