This table shows 17 positive specimens out of a total of 66 submitted, or 25.7 per cent positive. INFORMATION BLANK IN GONOCOCCUS OUTFIT. West Virginia State Board of Health BACTERIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. Gonorrhoea. DIRECTIONS FOR OBTAINING SMEARS FOR EXAMINATIONS 1. Male. To obtain smears from urethral discharge, the foreskin should be stripped back and external meatus and glans penis carefully cleaned, so as to remove bacteria which occur in this region. A drop is then expressed on a clean slide and spread out to make a thin smear. 2. Female. In the female with a profuse discharge it is usually useless to search for the gonococcus in the vagina. It is better first to douche the vaginal tract with sterile water and cleanse the vulva, then obtain a smear from the external os, or press out such secretion as has collected in the urethra. A second specimen should be sent if the result of the first examina. tion is negative and the case is suspicious clinically. OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM. This disease is due to the gonococcus which enters the eys at the time of birth or shortly after. It may be prevented by dropping into each eye one drop of a one per cent solution of silver nitrate. This is washed out with salt solution. If the disease occurs the sight is usually lost in two weeks. The same outfit as above can be used, smears being made on the slides from this conjunctiva. Specimens must be taken according to above directions, and mailed in cases furnished by the Laboratory. Reports will be sent by telegram if desired, at the expense of those interested. Address to BACTERIOLOGIST, STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY, MORGANTOWN, W. VA. DATA CARD AND REPORT BLANKS FOR GONOCOCCUS. Hygienic Laboratories-West Virginia State Board of Health. shows the presence of the gonococcus. We therefore report the specimen as positive. Case No. Very truly yours, A. ARKIN, Ph. D., M. D., Chief Bacteriologist. West Virginia State Board of Healt Hygienic Laboratories. BACTERIOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. Dear Sir: The specimen from submitted by you on.. . . . does not show the presence of the gonococcus. We therefore report the specimen as negative. Very truly yours, A. ARKIN, Ph. D., M. D., Chief Bacteriologist. Send another specimen if case is suspicious clinically. WIDAL TESTS FOR TYPHOID. The following table gives the list of Widal tests for typhoid fever done during the year. Of the 99 samples of blood examined 29 were positive, making a percentage of 29. These results further emphasize the need of a bacteriologic survey of the water supplies of the state, as they are in close accord with the results of our examinations of water, which showed 38 per cent of the samples submitted to be 1. Cleanse the skin of the lobe of the ear, or the tip of the finger, avoiding the use of bichloride of mercury, carbolic acid or other strong reagent. Soap and water, followed by alcohol and ether, is recommended. 2. Prick deeply to ensure a free escape of blood, manipulating with the fingers, if necessary, to secure a sufficient amount. A surgical needle or pointed tentome may be used for the puncture. 3. Avoiding the first two or three drops which exude, touch the freshy escaped blood several times with the loop of wire accompanying the outfit in order to secure one full drop. Since the Widal method is quantitative, care should be taken to fill the loop completely, but no more than one such loopful is required. 4. Deposit the whole drop of blood on the paraffined paper accompanying the outfit, and allow it to dry completely; do not use heat to hasten the drying. 5. Cleanse the wire loop, fill out the accompanying card and repack the outfit, placing the filled-out card over the paper; enclose the whole in the envelope and mail to the Hygienic Laboratories, West Virginia State Board of Health. (Postage 2 cents.) A report will be mailed on the day following receipt of the preparation, or a telegraphic report will be sent at the physician's expense, if requested. Communications concerning specimens should be addressed to DATA CARD FOR TYPHOID. Hygienic Laboratories-West Virginia State Board of Health. Do you wish telegraphic report, at your expense.. (Further details may be given on reverse side) Ex. by. Date. shows the presence of the serum reaction for typhoid fever. Very truly yours, A. ARKIN, Ph. D., M. D., Chief Bacteriologist. A positive reaction indicates that the patient yielding the blood has typhoid fever or has recently recovered from it, or has been given the typhoid vaccine, or has some localized affection in which typhoid bacilli are present. All excreta from the case should be carefully disinfected. Laboratory outfits MUST be used, otherwise specimens does not give the serum reaction for typhoid fever. Very truly yours, A. ARKIN, Ph. D., M. D., Chief Bacteriologist. A single negative result should not be considered decisive, especially if the case is clinically suspicious. The reaction rarely appears before the fifth day of the disease, and may appear and disappear on successive days. In a small percentage of cases of typhoid fever the reaction does not occur at any stage of the disease. A single negative result does not exclude typhoid fever but renders its existence doubtful. Laboratory outfits MUST be used, otherwise specimens will not be examined. does NOT give a typical reaction, a partial action only occurring. The result is therefore of no value. Kindly submit another specimen. Very truly yours, A. ARKIN, Ph., D., M. D., Chief Bacteriologist. An atypical result means nothing. Further tests may result either |