WAR AGAINST DISEASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 8

WAR AGAINST DISEASE.

WORK IN LABORATORIES, I THE AUCKLAND INSTITUTION | GREAT SERVICE TO PUBUcIf WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES —— > Laboratory work in connection wiS the detection and prevention of disease and as the source of research and investigation for the general benefit of the health of the public, is assuming >[a orß importance each year. Fifteen or sixteen years ago, pathological, bacteriological and bio-chemical research was almost un' i known, but such rapid strides have been made that laboratories for this purpose are now indispensable. The Dominion has kept pace with f other countries in the matter of labors tory work, and the Auckland Hospital 1 laboratory, housed on the fourth floor of * the Wallace block, has attained a standard of efficiency, from the point of view I of the quality of the equipment and the work done, that would compare with any I in the world. The Auckland Hospital 1 Board has recognised the importance of this branch of hospital and general health work, and has seen to it, to tke gratifi. cation of the director, Dr. W. Gilmour that nothing is lacking in the way of f necessary equipment. The laboratory occupies the whole, of the fourth floor and provides endless in. S terest for the lay visitor. In the vari. i ous rooms one i- confronted with in. J numerable test tubes, hundreds of in. 1 triguing looking bottles in apparent confusion on the shelves, measuring tubes, 1 and burners. To the trained eye, how- | ever, each obscure bottle, each tube, re- f presents an important part of the ' work, because there is nothing in th» I laboratory that is not wanted. Investigation o! Foods. . The laboratory is divided into ho- -| tions where penological, bacteriological, and bio-chemical problems are solved. Thj pathological department deals with postmortem examinations and the microscopic examination of tissues. The bacteriological department is concerned with the routine diagnosis of bacterial infec- rj tion. Here the nature of an infection is ] determined, and very often a valuable guide is given for treatment. Bacteriology also plays an important part in the field of preventive medicine. Here also samples of water supplies, milk, and foods are subjected to thorough investigations Technicians of bacteriology diagnose actual cases of infectious disease, and are able to localise the dread carriers. No cases of diphtheria, or of typhoid, are permitted to leave hospital unless bacteriological investigation has proved them negative. It will thus be observed what a prominent part bacteriology plays in safeguarding the public from infectious diseases, or in the spreading of disease. Very often the investigations lead the investigators to the source of the trouble, which is immediately taken in hand. The bacteriologist wages a continual and merciless war against disease, and with the scientific knowledge gained in recent years is gradually winning the battle. The latest addition to the labqpatory is the bio-chemical department. The field of bio-chemistry is one that is rapidly being recognised as one of the greatest importance, and here also excellent results 'are being , achieved. The biochemist is able, by careful analysis of the blood, etc., of a patient, to detect the minutest sign of improvement or otherwise in a patient. Most of the work : at present deals with diabetes —the diagnosis of it and the control of it. From tests made, the bio-chemist is able to detect .the amount of sugar in the blood, the effect of insulin on any patient, and the amount of insulin needed. Large Staff Occupied. The calls upon the laboratory are great, and Dr. Gilrnour and his 16 or 17 assistants are kept very busy. Tm greater portion of the work for tna Auckland province is carried out, and most of it is of a routine nature. Consequently, the staff finds very little time - for research, and even when this goes on it is crowded in between routine work. There is no section of the community more ready to recognise the importance of the laboratory than are medical men. Science in the laboratory has'helped them to an inestimable degree. New Zealand might be proud of the wcrk that is being done behind the doors of its laboratories. It is a work that is carried on quietly and steadily. It is mora than a work—it is a constant war being waged against disease. Dr. Gilmour, who was trained at Glasgow, and who recently returned from a trip abroach considers that New Zealand is considerably ahead of the Old Country in its laboratory services to the community, and in facilities for work generally. So far as the hospital laboratory is concerned he paid a tribute to the Auckland Hospital Board, for their everready sympathy and material assistance, which really enabled such good results to be achieved.