Et.—3l

14

SECTION 4.—QUARANTINE ANI) PORT SANITARY WORK. During the year under review considerable time was devoted to the preparation of a set of up-to-date regulations relating to quarantine. These finally became operative as from the Ist December, 1921. The occurrence of plague in Australia necessitated extreme precautions in order to guard the Dominion against the invasion of this disease. Up to the time of writing (May, 1922) these measures have been successful, and it is hoped that the most serious risks arc now passed. This opportunity is taken of acknowledging the courtesy of the Federal and New South Wales Departments of Health in supplying full and prompt information concerning the course of the disease in Australia, and the measures so successfully applied to limit its spread. "■Details concerning the port health inspection of overseas ships are contained in the next table.

Port Health Inspection of Overseas Vessels during the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

SUCTION S.—BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES. The facilities available in the Dominion for the bacteriological investigation of disease are being gradually extended. Two new branch laboratories were opened during the year at Whangarei and Hamilton respectively. Apart from the main laboratories in the four centres, there are now six branch laboratories established in connection with the public hospitals of the subsidiary centres of tho Dominion. The table below, which summarizes the work of a definite public-health nature performed in these laboratories, shows the importance and wide range of the examinations undertaken in these institutions. Work in Bacteriological Laboratories. Table showing Public - health Work performed in Bacteriological Laboratories during the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

Port. Number of Vessels inspected. Remarks as to Oases of Infectious Diseases on Board or Persons not allowed to land, \_ Whangarei Auckland 3 300 1 case infectious disease reported. 7 cases infectious disease reported , 42 infirm and 36 prohibited immigrants reported. Thames Whakatane Gisborne Napier Waitara New Plymouth Wanganui' Wellington 1 2 II 11 1 8 16 164 28 cases infectious and II cases contagious disease reported. 37 infirm and 19 prohibited immigrants reported. Pioton Nelson Westport Grcymoutli Lyttelton 2 1 4 5 61 3 cases infectious and 3 cases contagious disease reported. Timaru Oamaru Port Chalmers . . Bluff , .. 11 2 36 25 2 cases infectious disease reported. Total . . 664

Number of Ixaminations. Posit! •e. Negative. I Disease. i I i OS 1 3. s I 5 i ft s a -S ■ S3 rl I bo I I 1 | I | I a I .a I I I I § is H ' S. BE Of 3 cl i CJ I 6 a o £1 1 o I 5 J. O a a 3 a o -i il iS is i H 1 rd i -a cj 1 5 | d B a | 1 Diphtheria diagnosis . . Diphtheria clearance .. Tuberculosis — Sputum Cerebro-spinal fluid. . Urine Pleuritic fluid Faeces Other material Typh'd-fever diagnosis Agglutination tests .. Blood-culture Faeces 1 7 452 7 5 44 162 147 158 791 554 299 65 1,486 774 121 299 774 65 121 12 3 12 1,179 3 .. 1,179 35 ! 23j 3£ 2S •6 '3 i 394 559 2,079: II 111 300 . . I 394 111 2.737! 5,317 2,7071,452 418 202 13 3l 127 1 11 1 135 1 10 32 2 13 210 1 0 1 1 10 04 118 02 1 Cl IS hi 20 :■ 118 1 20 62 2 3 58 58 074 1 9 9 3 4 9 074 1 9 59 1 4| 5£ 1 ( 19 1 4 9 ! ) 340 191 017 14 15 26 ll 111 62 71 Hi .. 19 1 21 . . 5 )| 26 10 48 340 14 111 16 21 26 517 10 125 5 2 27 453 29 05 197 7 41 1 1 1 3 5 1 5 1 3 9 21 30 1 2 4 3 35 4 14 1 11 17 47 ll 7' 12 1 .. 1 1 2 72 4 7 2 43 2 4 2 72 7 43 10 li 20 1( : 21 .6 4 »ii 5 96 30 402 l, 4 . . 1 j' 57 17 40 96 4 57 04 12 i 296 38 0 i 9 12 11 1 .. 1 7 .. ..