The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

40 The Health Bulletin June, 1951Our physicians, as well as our healthdepartments, have been more active intheir fight against intestinal parasitesin 1950 than they have been for years.Of 16,660 examinations one or two parasiteswere found in 3,172 specimensthe percentage of infestation was considerablyhigher than in 1949 when 14,-352 specimens showed only 2,367 withparasites.For diphtheria a larger number ofexaminations was made in 1950 than in1949 but fewer typical organisms werefound.For two successive years now the laboratoryhas examined hundreds of bloodfilms for Malaria without finding asingle parasite in those specimens whichwere sent for diagnosis. In 1949—1019specimens were examined and in 1950662.The increased interest in tuberculosiswas reflected in the number of specimensof sputum sent for microscopicexaminations and for culture— 17,022such specimens xvere examined in 1950the tubercle bacillus being found in1,688 of these which is a smaller numberthan was found in 15,484 examinationswith 1,738 showing typical organisms.The number of specimens sent formiscellaneous examinations was greaterin 1950 than in 1949—3,519 as comparedto 2,924.North Carolina's interest in Vincent'sAngina is continuing to decrease, only2,007 specimens being received dui'ingthe past calendar year.Serological tests for syphilis continueto be one of the major activities of thelaboratory. There was an actual increasein the number of specimens of blood receivedduring the calendar year, 1950305,532 as compared with 293,905 in1949. The number of doubtful and positivereactions in 1950 were approximatelyone-third less than in 1949.The number of spinal fluids examinedin 1950 was only slightly greater thanin 1949.Other serological tests included complementfixation for Endemic Typhus981 specimens of blood from rats and13 specimens from humans. Complementfixation tests were performed on14 patients for Rocky Mountain SpottedFever, three specimens for RickettsialPox, two specimens for Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis, and 2 specimens forQ Fever.One of the new activities of theLaboratory—that of Cytological examinationof smears, was increased markedlyduring 1950—a total of 5,191 examinationswere made. All of the specimensexcept 677 made on the female inmatesof the State Hospital in Raleigh, weresent from the various cancer clinicsconducted throughout the State. TheClinic in Durham contributed 1,440 ofthese and the Clinic in Wilmingtonbeing second, contributed 1,390. TheLaboratory hopes to extend this serviceas soon as competent cytologists can betrained.Another new activity of the Laboratoryis in the field of stream pollution.Chemical analyses were made on 387specimens.Of the biological products preparedand distributed by the Laboratory—thequantity of typhoid vaccine has showna marked decrease during 1950. The decreasedprevalence of the disease hasmade unnecessary many of the formerpopular immunization clinics. The diminisheddose used in immunization hasalso tended to reduce the volume of thevaccine.Smallpox vaccine was used in a smalleramount in 1950 than 1949, althougha sufficient amount of vaccine was distributedto vaccinate 228,257. Our improvedPertussis Vaccine, continuing toincrease in popularity each year sincethe Laboratory first offered it, has shownan increase over the previous year—1950is no exception, even though there is adefinite increase in the popularity ofthe multiple antigen immunizing agents.There seems to be an increased tendencytoward the immunization of otherchildren and adults to diphtheria. Therewas a sizeable increase in the amountof the Ramon or soluble diphtheriatoxoid during the past year. There wasalso an increase in the amount of AlumPrecipitated Diphtheria toxoid. Thecombinations of diphtheria toxoid withPertussis Vaccine, and with Tetanus