71 ■ j (7.) Scientific Institutes. FuUio Health Laboratories.

The extension of these laboratories, so urgently required for the last few years, was begun in the middle of August, and it is expected tliat the work will be finished by the end of 1920.

The whole question of the arrangement and condition of Government laboratories is at present being studied by a small Government commission.

The military authorities have now arranged to undertake their own bacteriological work, so that, with the exception of the performance of a number of Wasserman reactions, the supply of certain chemicals, bacterial cultures, sera, &c., the laboratories will be relieved of a great deal of extra strain placed upon them by war conditions.

The travelling bacteriological railway car, which, had been lent to the army, will, it is expected, be returned to the department shortly.

It is to be observed that, with the exception of the city of Alexandria, the bacteriological diagnosis for the whole of Egypt is centralised in Cairo. This is disadvantageous as regards certain bacteriological diagnoses, such as those required for the control of plague, typhus, &c., and also as regards certain chemical analyses, such as those of distant local water supplies, iserated waters and ice, on account of the time taken for the specimens to reach the Central Laboratory in Cairo. It is therefore proposed to extend the facilities for bacteriological diagnoses to certain towns in the provinces such as Suez, Port Said and Assiout. Bacteriologists are being trained at the Central Laboratory to stall these provincial laboratories, and the necessary funds for their installation and equipment are being asked for.

At the request of the Arab Bnreau, a small bacteriological stall and equipment were sent to Jedda for the diagnosis of plague and cholera there during the pilgrimage.

Assistance has been given to the Minister of Agriculture in testing the strength of cattle plague serum and the examination of blood in connection with the Serum Institute at Abbassia.

The total number of analyses performed during 1919 was: bacteriological, 10,970; chemical, 3,603. In addition 477 analyses were made for the military authorities.

Of the total number of samples of milk examined no less than 21-6 per cent, were found to have been tampered with, that is, either skimmed or watered, or both.

Water Service.

The regular inspection of the drinking water supplies throughout the country has unfortunately not yet been effected. Regular bacteriological and chemical analyses of the Cairo and Alexandria water supplies are, however, being carried out, and outlying districts are visited and the supplies analysed if there is reason to suspect that this is warranted.

Aerated waters and ice factories are controlled so far as is possible with the existing staff.

Vaccine Institute.

The amount of vaccine lymph issued in 1919 was 5,645,020 doses. A campaign of general vaccination having been decided on, heavy demands for lymph were consequently made on the Vaccine Institute, whose normal annual output has hitherto been some 2,000,000'doses—usually sufficient for Egypt and the Soudan. The general vaccination campaign, however, called for the issue of a million doses a month for a period of six months, besides extra demands for the British army, the Soudan Government, Syria, Cyprus, &c., which are constantly coming in. In order to meet these heavy demands, temporary stabling for calves 1 ad to be erected, extra staff taken on, and suitable kiffalo calves procured, in spite of the difficulty as regards supply. The tubes and phials necessary for the isue of vaccine in such large quantities were not available in the country, nor could they be procured at such short notice, so that the distribution had to be effected by means of such small medicine bottles as were obtainable. It also became evident that cold storage accommodation must form part of the Vaccine Institute. The storage of sera and vaccine in extern lay establishments is unsatisfactory, and other arrangements must be provided without delay.

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.