Annual report of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital : 1918.

  • Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.
Date:
1918
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital : 1918. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/184 (page 45)
    No. Per cent 1917 114 .55.6 1916 113 49.54 1915 101 .47.6 1913 and 1914 147 . 58.5 The number of surgical and bacteriological examina¬ tions for preceding years were: 1917 1248 1916 1144 1915 1030 1914 847 The increase in number of bacteriological examinations is due in part to the many throat cultures made during the period last winter when there were a number of cases of diphtheria in the hospital and in part to the increased facilities for bacteriological work. During eleven months of the year the laboratory force was limited to two, the Pathologist and Dr. Wulffaert, as it was impossible to secure men for the positions of Resi¬ dent and House Officer. This, and a routine consider¬ ably heavier than in any preceding year, prevented any extensive research activity. The appointment of a bacteriological assistant in October has been productive of a gradual improvement in the character of the clinical and autopsy bacteriology, but the bacteriological work of the laboratory cannot be put upon a permanently satisfactory basis until the labora¬ tory force is restored to its normal strength. In this connection may be mentioned the advisability of in¬ creasing the strength of the department by creating a place for a second house officer. This would insure hav¬ ing at all times one house officer with at least six months’ training, and would enable both the Resident and the Pathologist to give more time to original investigation and to cooperate with the members of the clinical de¬ partments in the special study of difficult cases.