New Britain herald., 1915-04-13
Laboratory l. Report.

During the time the laboratory has been open, viz: ten months. 1t has been utilized by most of the phy- s1clans to such an extent that as far as l can learn, while it is the youngest board of health Ia boratory in the state more culture work has been done in it than in any other laboratory except ing that of the Hartford board of health.
 The work for the ten months is as follows: Cultures for examination of diphtheria bacilli, 1342. 121 of which were positive for diagnosis; blood examinations by Widals method for typhoid fever. Fl, of which there were positive 21: sputum cXamina- tions for tubercular bacilli, S9, of which there were positive 2S; miscel- laneous examinations, 54; total num- Der of examinations of all kinds for the ten months, 1856.
 Twelve Diphtheria Carriers.
 The value of this work cannot be overrated for by freely taking cul- lures from throatS of suspicious cases it is possible to pick out cases Of diphtheria and carriers of the dip theria germ. and segregate them in the interest of well children. In this way we have found twelve children who from time to time carry the diptheria bacili in their throat, though they do not show any sym toms of the disease. They are, how ever, capable of communicating the disease to others. We keep constant watch of these cases and take frequent cultures of their throats in order to determine whether they are a men
 if return to school.
 "A further value of the la laboratory has been in the rapid reports the phy- sicians get in comparison with the time when they sent cultures by mail to the state laboratory. Early reports mean earlier applied treatment.
 "I am deeply indebted to the direc- tor of the Hartford board of health laboratory for his able advice in the fitting up and starting of our labora- tory. Also, to the superintendent and clerk of the Hartford board of health in helping me establish a system of records in this department.
 Tt is to be hoped that in the near future the city will have a whole time analyst who will do the city chemical work and that of the bacteriological laboratory, thereby relieving the su- perintendent from spending much time in the laboratory, and enabling him to give that additional time to other work.
 Plumbing Inspection.
 The report of the plumbinb inspec- tor will give the summary of his work from May, 1914. The importance of this work in the interest of the com munity should not be overlooked, and it Is to be hoped that the common council will soon see it's way clear to grant the request recently made by this department asking for a whole time plumbing inspector. The fac tory arrangements have co-operated with us regarding plumbing inspec tion, and | wish to express my per sonal appreciation of their unstinted efforts in aiding the board of health in it's organization and work.
 Milk Inspection.
 The annual report of the milk in- spector will show a large number of permits issued to dealers and it cm- phasizes the great need that this of flee should be made a Whole-time po- sition in order to properly keep track of so many dealers and sources of milk supply.
 Tt would be to the interest of this department and to the benefit of the community if there were someone ap- pointed to do milk analysis. which would accomplish much needed result viz. more frequent examinations of milk handled by the various dealers. thus giving the inspector that addi-