MENINGITIS. The Laboratory will examine specimens of the meningeal fluid for the presence of the diplococcus of Weichselbaum. Such specimens should be enclosed in a sterile vial and sent to the laboratory with a full history of the case. Address to Bacteriologist, State Hygienic Laboratory, Morgantown, W. Va. GONORRHEA. In its acute stage this disease is usually diagnosed in male patients without particular difficulty, but only a number of microscopic examinations can establish the fact that the infection has been entirely eradicated. In cases of urethritis in the male a thin smear of the pus on a glass slide or cover slip should be sent to the laboratory for confirmation of the diagnosis. When the discharge has entirely ceased so nothing can be obtained from the urethra, the prostate should be "milked" and the secretions pressed out from the urethra on to a cover glass and sent in for examination. Before the patient is discharged as cured several consecutive negative reports should be had from the laboratory. Gonorrhea is much more difficult to diagnose clinically in females. Hence suspicious cases of acute vaginitis, especially if accompanied by smarting on urination, should be subjected to microscopical examination. On account of the remarkable luxuriance of the bacterial flora of vaginal discharges, it is better to press out such secretion as has collected in the urethra and make the smear from this instead. Send smears to Bacteriologist, State Hygienic Laboratory, Morgantown, W. Va. SYPHILIS. The Laboratory will make microscopic examination for the presence of the treponema pallidum (spirochaeta pallida). When possible, it is best to send the patient to the laboratory to have the specimen collected. Within a short time the laboratory will be prepared to make the Wasserman and Noguchi tests. For the present a charge will be made for these examinations. It is not deemed wise at the present time to render this service as a public health measure. ANTHRAX, ACTINOMYCOSIS AND GLANDERS. The examination in cases of suspected anthrax, glanders, and actitomycotic tissue or pus is made only on the request of local health officers, physicians, or state consulting veterinarian. Anthrax. In the case of an animal dying of suspected anthrax the ear should be cut off, enclosed in a Mason fruit jar, and shipped to the laboratory by express, charges prepaid. The ear may also be wrapped in a cloth which has been satuated with a solution of bi Al container should be marked with name and address of sender. ways send a history of the case by mail to the laboratory, addressing to Bacteriologist, State Hygienic Laboratory, Morgantown, W. Va. Actinomycosis. Suspected actinomycotic pus can be placed in a clean bottle enclosed in a mailing case and sent to the laboratory by mail. Actinomycotic tissue should be placed in a 10 per cent formalin solution in a glass container and sent to the laboratory by express, charges prepaid. A history of the case should be sent to the laboratory by mail. Glanders. Tissue or pus from suspected glanders should be placed in a clean jar packed in ice and sent to the laboratory by express, charges prepaid. The container should be marked "Suspected Glanders" together with the name and address of shipper. A history of the case should be sent to the laboratory by mail. Glanders may often be diagnosed by the examination of a swab taken from the nostril of the suspected animal. These swabs are prepared by twisting a piece of absorbent cotton on the end of a strong iron wire which has previously been heated to redness in a flame. The whole swab should then be placed in a sterile test tube, the mouth of which is plugged with cotton. When pus can be collected from unopened abcesses, such an occur in farcy, the diagnosis is more certain. The abcesses should be opened and the pus collected in a sterile bottle. The diagnosis may also be made by the agglutination, or complement fixation tests. These tests are particularly useful in cases of glanders where the symptoms are obscure. In such cases special directions will be given by the laboratory for the collection of blood. methods of diagnosis are applicable to the disease in man also. These HOOKWORM, ROUND WORM, TAPEWORM, OR THREAD WORM. Directions for Collecting Specimen. Put a specimen of the feces as large as a bean or segment of parasite in bottle furnished by the Hygienic Laboratory and cork tightly, replace in proper container. A second specimen should always be sent if the result of the first examination is negative, and the case is suspicious clinically. No specimens will be examined unless taken in accordance with above directions and mailed in cases furnished by the laboratory. These will be furnished on request. Reports by telegraph will be sent whenever requested at the expense of those interested. Address specimens to Bacteriologist, State Hygienic Laboratory, Morgantown, W. Va. Toxicological Examinations of stomach contents, etc., and of food substances and drugs the cause of sickness will be made by the chemist. A moderate fee will be charged for stomach analysis and other medicolegal work commensurate with the work done. Specimens for chemical analysis should be sent to Chemist, State URINE. Frequent demands for the examination of urine call for the following announcement: A charge is made in all cases of urinalysis. The examination includes the chemical and microscopical analysis. In sending specimen never send less than three fluid ounces. The best results are obtained when this sample is taken from a 24 hour specimen which should be well shaken before removing the sample. Place urine in a clean bottle and drop in a small crystal of thymol. The specimen should be sent to the laboratory by express, charges prepaid. At the time of shipment a history of the case should be sent, together with reasons for examination. When a bacteriological examination is desired a twenty-four hours' specimen should be sent. Address all specimens to Bacteriologist, State Hygienic Laboratory, Morgantown, W. Va. BACTERIAL VACCINES. Anti-Typhoid Vaccine. The results obtained in every part of the world by the use of the anti-typhoid vaccine has led the laboratory to advise its use in the state. It is recommended that when a physician finds a case of typhoid fever in a family, he will advise antityphoid vaccination for the other members of the family. Bacterial Vaccines in Other Diseases. The use of bacterial vaccines has become very general during the last few years, owing largely to the researches of Dr. Wright in England. The results obtained are often striking. These vaccines can not be furnished by the laboratory free of charge, but in those cases in which physicians wish to know what particular germ is causing the trouble, the laboratory will make the diagnosis, and prepare an autogenous vaccine at a moderate cost. These vaccines will be carefully standardized and sent to physicians with full directions for use. The laboratory will always be glad to give advice along these lines, free of charge to physicians. For information address Bacteriologist, State Hygienic Laboratory, Morgantown, W. Va. THE PASTEUR TREATMENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF RABIES. The Pasteur preventive treatment for rabies will be administered at the laboratory. No special fund has been provided for carrying out this treatment. The treatment requires 21 days. This treatment is of no value after symptoms of the disease have declared themselves. As a rule, it should be commenced within one week after the rabid animal has bitten the person. In all cases the head of the animal which has inflicted the injury should be sent to the laboratory and a positive diagnosis received before the patient comes to Morgantown. For information communicate with Dr. A. Arkin, Bacteriologist, State GENERAL INFORMATION. Report blanks applicable to all diseases mentioned are furnished by the laboratory free of charge. Reports are sent by mail always, unless a special request is made that they be sent by telegraph or telephone. The laboratory cannot pay telegraph or telephone calls and will send reports by telegraph whenever requested at the expense of those interested. The importance of plain writing cannot be exaggerated. The number of specimens sent to the laboratory is very large, and it is not infrequently very difficult to make a report on account of the illegibility of the name and address of the sender. Sometimes it is absolutely impossible, and no report is made until an inquiry comes from the sender. Much dissatisfaction can be avoided by paying attention to this point. The above list shows the routine examinations made by the State Laboratory of Hygiene. We shall be glad always to have physicians consult the laboratory on any public health matter which comes up in their community, and if possible to aid them, the laboratory will make such examinations are are within its power. The laboratory is also prepared to make special investigations and will send an expert to any locality when conditions seem to demand it. We ask particularly that those sending specimens to the laboratory by mail use packages which comply with the United States postal regulations. Failure to observe these regulations may cause the license of the laboratory to be withdrawn. We ask that the utmost care be used in the collection and shipment of specimens. Our ability to make a diagnosis depends largely on the condition of the specimen when it is received. Many specimens come to us which are so putrid that nothing can be done with them. The Hygienic Laboratory is located in the Pathology and Bacteriology Laboratories, West Virginia University. The State Board of Health has its offices in Wheeling, W. Va. Specimens for examination and letters concerning these specimens should be addressed to the BACTERIOLOGIST OF THE STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY and not to the State Board of Health. Delay is always occasioned by this mistake. To avoid delay, address all communications to BACTERIOLOGIST, STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY, A. Arkin, Ph. D., M. D. Chief Bacteriologist and Pathologist, State Hygienic Laboratory. The following table gives a list of the examinations made by the Bacteriological Department for the year ending November 30, 1914, In this table the various examinations are classified and the number Bacteriological Examinations From Dec. 1, 1913, to Nov. 30, 1914. Examination of sputum is made for tubercle bacilli. The value of this is apparent to all. The detection of tuberculous patients is of great importance to the community. Outfits giving full instructions can be obtained from free distributing stations in each county or by addressing Bacteriologist, State Hygenic Laboratory. During the year 156 specimens were examined, of which 37 were positive and 119 negative. This makes 23.7 per cent of positive results. It is urged that when a specimen is reported negative and the case is suspicious clinically, another sample be sent. In the following table is given the number of examinations made each month: |