Evening journal., 1913-01-23
continued From ans PAGE.


tory be located at said state hospital,
Tor the reason that there already
existed laboratory there under the
control OF resident pathologist, who
with extra help, could, as he said, DO
the laboratory work OF the hospital
and of the state. AS this meant addi-
tional appropriation TO Farnhurst' the
Legislature not approaching fully the
vital Importance Of a state laboratory,
failed to pass said bill.
Location Of the Laboratory.
at was then proposed by Profess
sor +. ID. Chester, the mycologist oil
the Delaware Experiment station,
that the laboratory be located at
Newark in one of the college build
ings. The advantages offered were
free laboratory room and the services
Of the mycologist as director Of the
laboratory. IL was therefore stipula-
ted in the bill. which finally passed
the Legislature, that the mycoioeist
of the experiment station should act
as the director OF the State Board OF
Health laboratory without extra com
pensation
1T Is thus seen that the Legisla-
turo agreed 10 put the laboratory at
Newark. not because 1t deemed the
location particularly desirable, but
because of the offers made by Della
ware College, namely. room, apparat-
us and skilled supervision. The coll
lege has never given / cents worth OF
apparatus 70 the laboratory. and as
10 skilled supervision. this part Of the
agreement was carried out only so
long az Professor Chester was con-
nected with the experiment station,
and not since. We emphasize this fact
because one OF the Inducements In
getting the laboratory was this valu-
able service, and by Withdrawing this
service, Delaware College has failed
10 carry out this very essential part
OF It's offer. How essential II Is has
been apparent ever since Professor
chester left the experiment station
Instead OF two trained men connected
with the laboratory. as was the case
while Professor Chester was there
there has been since his departure
but one, and in the absence OF the
spresent incumbent on official busi-
ness. the laboratory work stops. AS
matter OF fact. Il Is a question
whether the experiment station could
carry out this part OF tho agreement
should II desire to do so.
Functions Of Laboratory.
In making tho above statements
\ have been quoting from an editoria
An the Delaware State Medical Jour
nal OF October last and IN furthel
quotation of same I beg TO call YOU
attention TO the functions Of the stat
Laboratory
First It should assist the Stat
Board OF Health. as we'll as the yari
GUS local Boards OF Health. In tn
detection. investigation and control o
infectious diseases. with n view to tn
prevention OF epidemics. or their Grad
ication when already existing.
second 10 assist physicians in IN
diagnosis OF disease.
Third. to conduct such investiga
tons as would protect the peopl
against fraud in food and drugs q
the danger lurking in impure and IN
wholesome foods and drinks.
Fourth, TO conduct such invest
cations as would promote public we
fare insofar as it depends on prop'
hygiene and sanitation
Fifth. to these functions has be,
added that Of assisting the attorne
general in the Investigations of pc
Sous and the examination of SUI
stances OF neither a contagious
infectious character II is thus Sc,
that the scope of the laboratory
very wide. that the work Is far reac
ing, and that the proper execution
the work would lead to the saving
many lives. not to mention the gener
benefits that would accrue TO the pc
pie through the facilities offered
the physicians OF the State In u
diagnosis of disease.
"The question is pertinent. Ho
far has the laboratory in Newark fu
filled its functions?
1T has done wonderfully well
the routine examination OF specimen
submitted by physicians and other
When we realize that the number
specimens was almost trebled in Il
last few years and that since Mr. Wa
son has been in charge. 1909 spe,
mems have been examined. We G,
only wonder how il was done. On Il
other hand. the laboratory has fail
in serving municipalities and IL h
failed in giving the best to the ply.
clans of the State.
City Is Sufferer.
ITO cite a SINCE Instance The 81
OF Wilmington spent close to 5000
on water supply Investigations viii
should have been conducted by {
state laboratory. The city Board
Health has been not only handicappl
but rendered practically impotent
lack Of laboratory Investigations. III
is true to certain extent OF OIL
municipalities in this state.
According TO the records of
laboratory, the mean annual numl
OF specimens of all kinds examined
] ,453. and assuming that all OF IN
are submitted by physicians. viii
of course, is not the case, there wo
be an average Of only a little o
six specimens per each physici
Taking the specimens of diphthe
typhoid and sputum which were su
ly submitted by physicians. we
the mean annual num9er OF 72S
less than three per physician. II
manifestly incredible that each phi.
clan in this state has only three ca
year on which he desires light Fl
laboratory Investigations. AS a n
ter OF fact, only comparatiN
small number of our doctors sub
specimens to the laboratory. the
jority not using the laboratory at
when we come to inquire into
causes. we find only one. namely.
inconvenience of the location of
laboratory Newark is not on
main line direct from any part Of
state below Wilmington. the mail
ing either by way of Wilmington
pnrfer sfafinn barring nnnnh %