EXAMINATION FOR MALARIA 



Physicians are coming to recognize more and more 

 the importance of blood examinations to determine 

 the presence of the malaria parasite. This is important 

 because it gives the basis for proper treatment. Other 

 diseases often have similar symptoms and do not re- 

 spond, of course, to the treatment given when the 

 disease has been improperly diagnosed. 



To examine the blood for malaria parasites a drop 

 is taken from the lobe of the ear or the finger tip, placed 

 on a glass slide, and a smear preparation made. These 

 "smears" are then properly stained, to differentiate 

 the parasite from the red blood corpuscles. (See also 

 page 10.) The California State Board of Health has 

 established laboratories at Berkeley and branches at 

 Fresno and elsewhere for the determination of disease 

 in blood specimens, sputum, etc. It is highly desir- 

 able that the physicians of the state make use of the 

 facilities thus afforded for the determination of 

 malaria. 



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