and Laboratory Methods. 



1981 



Some Apparatus Used in the Laboratory of the Buffalo 

 Department of Health. 



APPARATUS FOR USE IN SPUTUM INVESTIGATIONS. 



A specially designed box (Fig. 1) containing the bottle (Fig. 'I) for the col- 

 lection of sputum is used, and when it is returned to the laboratory it is placed 

 in one of the compartments in the Sputum Box Container. When ready to be 



DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 



BUFFALO, N. V. 



SPUTUn OUTFIT 



For submitting samples to be ex= 

 amined for Tubercle Bacilli. 



These Sputum Outfits can be 

 Returned to any Police Station or 

 Direct to the Department of Health. 



A report <will be mailed the 

 Physician as soon as possible. 



DIRECTIONS. 



Remove bottle from pasteboard box before 

 collecting sample of Sputum. Fill bottle one- 

 half (}^) full of Sputum and tightly insert cork. 

 Do not allow any Sputum to get on the outside 

 of bottle. If such should occur, wash off with 5 

 per cent, solution of Carbolic Acid. Place bot- 

 tle back into box, put on cover and completely 

 fill out spaces requesting name, address, etc. 



Patient's Name 



Patient's Address. __ 

 No. of City Ward... 

 Physician's Name,. 

 Physician's Address. 



Fig. 1. — Wrapper of Box used in collecting Sputum. 

 The box measures 1^^ x 13^ x 3 inches. 



Fig. 2 — Sputum Bottle. 



^ - — H.an.A,\e. 



.^ 



\^<,\es 



..i. 



:]-(?. — Side View of Sputum Box Container. 



examined the entire box is dipped in the bath of carbolic acid (Fig. 3). In this 

 way the box and its bottle are disinfected before being opened. Investigation 

 has demonstrated that at least 25 per cent, of all bottles sent in having been 

 filled with sputum by patients contain sputum on the outside of the bottle. By 

 the method described the danger of infection to those working in the laboratory 

 is minimized. 



