M 58
IX. SCIENTIFIC.
(A) Annual Report of the Government Bacteriological Institute,
(a) Introductory.
245. (1) Administrative :-The government bacteriologist, Dr. A. V. Greaves, was absent on long leave from January until October 1939; his duties during this period were performed by the assistant government bacteriologist, Dr. R. S. Begbie.
Dr. R. E. Alvares was appointed to the staff as an assistant at the end of January, and one additional technical laboratory assistant was also added to the staff at the same time.
246. (ii) Buildings and equipment:—(a) There were no alterations to the existing buildings.
(b) One new pony was added to our stock for the production of anti-meningococcic serum, and has been in steady use since.
(c) A new incubator was purchased. This is supposed to add to our incubator space in view of increased vaccine production. Actually, it merely helps to keep the existing space, as the two other large ones are frequently out of action for repairs at different times due to causes connected with age.
(d) A new refrigerator was purchased. This too merely helps to take the place of a very old machine which is frequently out of action for repairs.
247. (iii) Library: The following books were added during the year :-
"Muir's Bacteriological Atlas," By C. E. Van Rooyen, M.D. (Edin.)
"Muir and Ritchie's Manual of Bacteriology,” Revised. By C. H. Browning and T. J. Mackie (Tenth Edition).
"Hand Book of Practical Bacteriology" By T. J. Mackie, M.D., D.P.H. J. E. McCartney, M.D., D.S.c.
"Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products."
248. (iv) General:-The development and extension of the work of the Medical Department as a whole is reflected vividly in the activities of the Institute. It should hardly be necessary to mention such an obvious point, but it is one, nevertheless, which is apt to be overlooked. It has always been taken for granted, for example, that diagnostic material of any type and in any quantity referred to the Institute will always result in complete and reliable reported results. This is quite reasonable when applied to an organization equipped and staffed on a liberal scale. To a laboratory housed, equipped and financially supported on the modest scale which is the lot of the Bacteriological Institute, however, it is an entirely different matter, and it becomes increasingly difficult year by year to respond unquestioningly to such demands. The volume of work has reached a figure at which obvious advantages would occur from a definite splitting up into different divisions, but with the small technical staff at our disposal this is impossible. The figures for the year reveal that a total of over twenty thousand blood sera were subjected to the Kahn test for syphilis, this means an average of over four hundred tests weekly. There can be no question that a separate serological division is indicated to take care of a volume of work of one special type of such magnitude. The increase in the staff mentioned in the first paragraph has helped in taking care of the increased load of work, but hardly more than this, and I am not looking forward to the coming year with an altogether easy mind, more especially as Dr. R. S. Begbie is due for long leave.