Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-24
Advocates Instituting of Lab.
oratory At Augusta General
Hospital To Place Local Insti-
tuition In Class A Group
Gives Interesting Exposition
OF Laboratory Diagnostic
Work

Ihat the Institution of diagnostic
laboratory in the Augusta General
hospital would be a progressive and
constructive step and would aid in
placing that hospital on a class A
basis, was the declaration of DR..
Walter c. Nelson, Director of the
state Diagnostic Laboratory, speak
ing before the members of the Au-
gusta Kiwanis Club at the regular
luncheon session of that club, Thurs
day noon.
The klwanians were greatly inter
ested in DR.. Nelson's splendid talk
on the functions of the State Labora-
tory, and following his remarks con-
corning the need of a laboratory as
a part of the general hospital equip
ment, the members asked several
questions with a view to ascertain
ing the approximate cost of such an
installation.
DIR. Nelson's address on a highly
technical subject was given in such
phraseology that it was clearly COM
pretended by his auditors, and was
followed with the closeSt of attention.
1t was made the more interesting by
the display of charts illustrating the
characteristics of the more common
diseases producing germs, and of
cancerous growth.
He opened his talk by mentioning
the three greatest advances in pre-
Ventive medicine during the last
three quarters century. These are,
first: the germ theory of disease
proven by the discoveries of bacteria
by Louis Pasteur of France.
Gennn1-A ~,
troduced by Lord Lister of England,
which was development from Pas
tours work.
STA.
DR. Nelson told his audience that
all laboratory work today is an out
Erowth of Pasteur's discoveries and
~arly work. The laboratory is a part
Of the physicians and surgeons dag
lostic methods. and as applied to the
diagnosing of the ailment of pa
tent, four instruments are used:
physical examination. history of pa
tent, X-Ray, and the laboratory.
Concinuing his remarks with spe-
cial reference to laboratory functions
Dr. Nelson said that there are three
divisions or classes of the laboratory
procedure. The first of these is
Racteriology, or the Identification of
disease germs and immuning bodies
in material secured from the patient.
The second class is Pathology, or
the study of their sections of tissues
to determine the presence or alb
sence of malignant growths, such as
cancer.
Third emistry, to de-
termine such things as the excess of
sugar in blood and urine of dia bet
les, or abnormal constituents in
blood of patients with kidney dis
eases.
Developing his remarks upon bac-
terra, the speaker described the
three great classes, which are Cocci,
or sphere forms; Bacilla, or cylinder
forms; Spirals, or corkscrew forms.
He showed by the chat, which he
had prepared, the shapes of some
of the disease germs and where they
belonged in the classification men
toned DR. Nelson also explained
the methods of isolating and iden-
tifying the germs in the laboratory,
by microscopic and cultural meth
DDS.
A most interesting part Of the
talk was made upon the chart
which carried a rough diagram IL
Illustrating a cancer, and explained
how the diseased growth spread
through the body, and the methods
used to diagnose in the laboratory
by use of the microscope.
DR.. Nelson stressed the importance
of early diagnosis of cancer and
how a laboratory in hospital
could determine whether growth
vas malignant or not, by examining
a portion of it while the patient was
under ether, thus assisting the sur
geon to determine the extent to
which surgery was needed in the
particular case.
He explained how certain impor-
tant blood tests Counting of blood
cells to determine presence of In
fection) could only be made by a
laboratory worker on the spot, and
that such tests could not be sent
to a state laboratory because Of de-
leterious changes in blood He men,
toned the Importance of the CO.
y grlation rate test on every patient
before operations.
DR.. Nelson told his hearers that
the State Laboratory was primarily
instituted to guard against epidem-
les. and to control venereal dis
ease. It's work is for the community
and not individualistic. Hence it
could not, especially with its limited
personnel, take care Of the routine
laboratory work of our private hos
pital institutions.
The director of the State Diagnos-
tic Laboratory invited the Kiwanians
to inspect the laboratory equipment
and work, where he could explain
more graphically many of the
tbines which he had touched upon