H.—3l

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Laboratory. The following is a summary of specimens submitted to this office for bacteriological and other examination :■ —

In addition, numerous specimens in conection with cases of plague and suspected plague were examined, and transmitted to the Government Bacteriologist for confirmation. Five hundred and forty-one rats were bacteriologically examined for evidence of plague; four, during the occurrence of the two fatal cases of plague in May, were positive. H. Symons, District Clerk. Department of Public Health, Hamilton, 26th April, 1908. Dr. J. S. Purdy, District Health Officer, Auckland. I herewith submit my report and summary of inspections from the 9th October, 1907, when I took over the inspectorship for the Waikato District, to the 31st March, 1908. Borough of Hamilton. —The introduction of the sewerage system has necessitated constant attention to the house-drainage installations, eighty of which I have inspected and tested. It is a notable fact that no case of enteric has occurred in any house under the supervision of our Department properly connected with the sewerage system. Prosecution :G. A. S., at the instance of the Department, was prosecuted for having a dirty yard—found guilty. Borough of Cambridge. —The drainage system here has been carefully inspected, including the testing of twenty house connections. Outskirts of the Foregoing Boroughs. —Many household-drainage works have been advised, and their installation inspected. Raglan. —l have paid a visit of general inspection to this township. A nightsoil service is now being introduced. Morrinsville, Frankton, and Ngaruawahia. —These townships have been approached with reference to the introduction of nightsoil services, and there is every prospect of such being installed very shortly. Taumarunui and Te Kuiti. —Taumarunui and Te Kuiti have practically effected the installation of nightsoil services. King-country. —Many visits of inspection have been made to settlements in the King-country, where their scattered positions entail much travelling for the amount of work accomplished. There has been a great improvement from a sanitary point of view in the settlements along the Main Trunk line. Demonstrations and lectures, with lantern illustrations of modern sanitary requirements, have been given in the various centres.

u o> 3'I Nature. Suspected condition. Result of Examination or Disposal. 76 99 23 15 2 3 1 32 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 7 10 1 1 5 8 1 1 45 Sputum Tubercular Positive. Negative. Pneumococci. As reported.] One positive. )> • • • • »» • • Urine )) • • General abnormality Pus Tubercular Gonorrhoea Diphtheritic General Lactic acid or Free HC1 .. Tubercular Blood and HC1 .. Tubercular Pus Tubercle J, . . . . >> • • • • Throat swabs Serious exudation Vomit J? Negative. As reported. »» )s • • Pleuritic effusion Fluid ex liver ... Synovial fluid Uterine scraping Blood Menses Ligatures Pus smear and swabs .. J5 Negative. As reported. Pneumococci. Positive. Negative. As reported. Enteric Epithelioma Septic infection .. Gonorrhoea! )5 Squamous epithelia. Negative. Positive. Negative. Douching ex vagina Smear Excisions, various organs and tissues >> • • General and malignancy .. j) Sent to Bacteriologist, Wellington. 341