45

EL—3l

In the vaccine station forty-four calves were inoculated, and from these a quantity of lymph, equal to 60,000 tubes, was collected. The required reserve stock, equal to 20,000 tubes, has always been ready for immediate delivery, and there have been distributed in New Zealand 7,900 tubes and 397 cc. of calf-lymph. To Rancagua, in Chile, and to the French Government in Tahiti, 2,500 tubes have been supplied. The quality of the lymph has been good, and the reports received have been satisfactory. The total value of the lymph, at 6d. per tube, which is a low estimate, and is half the lowest price paid by the Department when supplies were received from other sources, is £1,500. The cost of production is Jess than 2d. per tube. In the importing and distributing branch of the Vaccine|Station|the quantity of sera imported, such as diphtheria antitoxin and tetanus antitoxin, also increased last year. A greater number of medical practitioners and public hospitals in both Islands each year obtain their supplies from the Department. In every branch the work has been strenuous, and much overtime and Sunday work has been necessary, especially since the early part of the present year. J have again to acknowledge the loyal assistance of each member of the staff. There has always been a cheerful volunteer to meet the emergencies which not unfrequently happen in a laboratory of this kind.

Table showing Results of Examinations of Pathological Specimens, 1st April, 1914, to 31st March, 1915.

Res >ult, Material. Object of Examination. Total. Positive. Negative. I I Sputum M icroscopical examinations— - For tubercle bacillus .. I ,, other conditions Cultural examinations I2<S 12!) 387 515 49 178 88 i ... Total for 1914 .. 781 880 Purulent disoharges. . M icroscopioal examinationsFor gonocoocus „ tubercle bacillus „ other pathogenic organisms Cultural examinations .".7 II 273 240 67 104 36 47 40 313 25 265 Total for 1914 .. 729 595 Pleuritic fluid Microscopical examinations— For tubercle bacillus Other conditions Cultural examinations 3 18 14 21 21 3 21 8 22 Total for 1914 .. 67 40 (lerebro-spinal fluid Microscopical examinations Cultural examinations 10 <s 7 26 18 20 Total for 1914 .. 52 44 Synovial fluid Microscopical examinations Cultural examinations II 4: II 7 II Total for 1914 .. 22 Nil Stomach-contents .. Total for 1914 .. 26 12 38 7 Faeces Chemical Microscopical Cultural II 18 8 6 17 3 21 5 13 Total for 1914 .. 51 31 [Trine Chemical Microscopical Cultural 987 664 4 12 2,063 830 Total for 1914 ..