120 THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
2. Specimens from Hospitals will also be investigated. Reports are at present issued to 
The Children's Infirmary, Liverpool. 
The Royal Albert and Edvi^ard Infirmary, Wigan. 
The Southport Infirmary. 
The Asylum, Chester. 
The Wirral Children's Hospital. 
3. Members are provided with appliances for forwarding the specimens. 
4. Reports are issued as early as possible. 
DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING MATERIAL 
Sputum 
A small quantity only is necessary, and it is advisable that the more solid portion of the 
expectorated material should be sent, unmixed with any fluid. For transmission, a clean wide- 
mouthed bottle is best. Marked hasmorrhagic sputum is unsatisfactory for examination. 
Diphtheria 
A sterilized swab is provided. 
The directions are as follows : — 
Before using any antiseptic application to the throat, rub the swab on the diseased surface, 
endeavouring to obtain as much material as possible ; the minimum should be at least visible to 
the naked eye ; return to the test tube and post at once to the Laboratory. 
In suspected laryngeal diphtheria the material should be obtained as far back in the pharynx 
as possible. 
Typhoid Serum 
Capillary tubes for collecting blood are provided. 
Members should bear in mind the following points : — 
1, The reaction is not often obtained till after the first week of illness, hence, in all early 
cases in which the report is negative, a second sample of blood should be sent. 
2. Before collecting the blood, the skin should be thoroughly washed and cleansed in spirit 
and then allowed to dry. The lobe of the ear is a very convenient place from which 
to obtain the blood. 
Blood 
i. Examination for organisms. — The use of the several antitoxic sera renders a preliminary 
examination of the blood necessary. Statistics show that organisms are found in about 
10-20 of suspected cases. 
It is advisable to send as large a quantity of blood as possible, and this is best done by 
withdrawing a syringeful from a superficial vein of the arms, strict antiseptic 
precautions being taken. 
ii. Microscopic examination. — Thin films should be made on perfectly clean coverslips at the 
bedside and forwarded to the Laboratory. 
