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A simple method of estimating the sedimentation rate of the red blood cells
134
TUBERCLE
CLINICAL
AND LABORATORY
A SI~IPLE I~IETHOD OF ESTIMATING THE SEDI~IENTATION RATE OF TtIE RED BLOOD CELLS. A simple and p r a c t i c a l m e t h o d of m a k i n g this t e s t h a s been devised b y Dr. C. J. M c S w e e n e y , Medical Superi n t e n d e n t of C o r k - S t r e e t F e v e r Hospital, Dublin, a n d Dr. P a r r y Morgan, L e c t u r e r in B a c t e r i o l o g y , W e l s h N a . tional School of Medicine [1]. To some e x t e n t it is a modification of a m e t h o d described by P a y n e [2] in 1932, both procedures having the a d v a n t a g e of avoiding venesectiou. The fully extended finger is firmly bandaged with stout t a p e ; i~ is t h e n strongly flexed and pricked with a surgical c u t t i n g needle. B y m e a n s of an a u t o m a t i c p i p e t t e of the m e r c u r y and cotton-wool type, or even with an o r d i n a r y pipette m a r k e d with a file at o.5 c.mm., one v o l u m e of a 3"8 solution of sod. cir. a n d four volumes o[ blood are successively taken up and expelled on to a hollowed glass slide, and thoroughly mixed by m e a n s of t h e pipette. A capill a r y tube a b o u t 6 in. in length and 1 mm. in bore is laid along a m i l l i m e t r e scale ruler and m a r k e d at a distance of 100 mm. from one end. The end of the tube f a r t h e s t a w a y from the m a r k is placed in t h e e i t r a t e d blood at an angle of about 45 ~ a n d the blood allowed to run up by c a p i l l a r y attraction. W h e n
CENTRAL
[ D e c e m b e r , 1934
AND
~he c i t r a t e d blood has reached the m a r k , the capillary tube is w i t h d r a w n and the moist end wiped. T h e r e is then a column of c i t r a t e d blood 100 mm. in length and 1 ram. in diameter, and this is now allowed to take up a central position, leaving both ends of the tube clever. T h e tube, held in the h o r i z o n t a l position is p u s h e d gently t h r o u g h a lu,np of plasticine which seals one end, and then with the sealed end uppermost the tube is stuck v e r t i c a l l y into the plasticine and allowed to stand for an hour in a cool place. At the end of the h o u r the height of clear fluid is m e a s u r e d in millimetres, the r e a d i n g o b t a i n e d giving the s e d i m e n t a t i o n rate of the red cells. I f a capillary tube, s l i g h t l y e x p a n d e d at one end so as to slip over t h e d i s t a l end of t h e a u t o m a t i c pipette, is firmly jointed t h e r e t o with sealing wax, one p i p e t t e can be used indefinitely. T h e principle of the a u t o m a t i c pipette is t h a t the a m o u n t of fluid taken up and delivered by the pipette is r e g u l a t e d by the excursion of a column of m e r c u r y between two plugs of cotton-wool insorted into the p r o x i m a l end of t h e pipette. REFERENCES. [1] Lm,cc/, 1934, il, 756. [2J Ibid., 1932, i, 74:.
LOCAL
HOME OFFICE. The following Statutory Rules and Orders have been issued :-2%'0. 889 amending the Silicosis and Asbcstosls (LIedical Arrangements) Scheme, 1931, with regard to the medical examination of workmen engaged for employment in certain branches of the Refractories Industries. No. 1063 amending the fees under the Silicosis and Asbestosis (Medical Fees) Regulations, 1931, as amended by the Silicosis and Asbestosis (Medical Fees)Amendmev t Regulation, 1933. hro. 1155 amendlug the Various Industries (Silicosis) Scheme, 1931, to include " A n y operation underground in any coal mine."
METHODS.
AUTHORITIES. CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.
REPORT ON TUBERCULOSIS FOR THE YEAR 1933.
Dr. G. B. Dixon, Chief Clinical Tuberculosis Officer, reports that the number of notified cases of tuberculosis was 1,486--a case rate of 1.4: per thousand, which is the lowest yet recorded. At the first visit to a fresh case it was discovered that 771 patients out of 1,640 were sharing a bed with some other person, while 50"2 others shared a bedroom but hada separate bed. At the Anti.Tuberculosis Centre, there were 5,040 attendances for supervision, observation and treatment ; 8,588 attendances for consultation and examination ; 6,178 attendanccs for X-ray examinations, and 15,231 attendances for light treatment:" Of the 1,070 primary cases suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis exam-
TUBERCLE
CLINICAL
AND LABORATORY
A SI~IPLE I~IETHOD OF ESTIMATING THE SEDI~IENTATION RATE OF TtIE RED BLOOD CELLS. A simple and p r a c t i c a l m e t h o d of m a k i n g this t e s t h a s been devised b y Dr. C. J. M c S w e e n e y , Medical Superi n t e n d e n t of C o r k - S t r e e t F e v e r Hospital, Dublin, a n d Dr. P a r r y Morgan, L e c t u r e r in B a c t e r i o l o g y , W e l s h N a . tional School of Medicine [1]. To some e x t e n t it is a modification of a m e t h o d described by P a y n e [2] in 1932, both procedures having the a d v a n t a g e of avoiding venesectiou. The fully extended finger is firmly bandaged with stout t a p e ; i~ is t h e n strongly flexed and pricked with a surgical c u t t i n g needle. B y m e a n s of an a u t o m a t i c p i p e t t e of the m e r c u r y and cotton-wool type, or even with an o r d i n a r y pipette m a r k e d with a file at o.5 c.mm., one v o l u m e of a 3"8 solution of sod. cir. a n d four volumes o[ blood are successively taken up and expelled on to a hollowed glass slide, and thoroughly mixed by m e a n s of t h e pipette. A capill a r y tube a b o u t 6 in. in length and 1 mm. in bore is laid along a m i l l i m e t r e scale ruler and m a r k e d at a distance of 100 mm. from one end. The end of the tube f a r t h e s t a w a y from the m a r k is placed in t h e e i t r a t e d blood at an angle of about 45 ~ a n d the blood allowed to run up by c a p i l l a r y attraction. W h e n
CENTRAL
[ D e c e m b e r , 1934
AND
~he c i t r a t e d blood has reached the m a r k , the capillary tube is w i t h d r a w n and the moist end wiped. T h e r e is then a column of c i t r a t e d blood 100 mm. in length and 1 ram. in diameter, and this is now allowed to take up a central position, leaving both ends of the tube clever. T h e tube, held in the h o r i z o n t a l position is p u s h e d gently t h r o u g h a lu,np of plasticine which seals one end, and then with the sealed end uppermost the tube is stuck v e r t i c a l l y into the plasticine and allowed to stand for an hour in a cool place. At the end of the h o u r the height of clear fluid is m e a s u r e d in millimetres, the r e a d i n g o b t a i n e d giving the s e d i m e n t a t i o n rate of the red cells. I f a capillary tube, s l i g h t l y e x p a n d e d at one end so as to slip over t h e d i s t a l end of t h e a u t o m a t i c pipette, is firmly jointed t h e r e t o with sealing wax, one p i p e t t e can be used indefinitely. T h e principle of the a u t o m a t i c pipette is t h a t the a m o u n t of fluid taken up and delivered by the pipette is r e g u l a t e d by the excursion of a column of m e r c u r y between two plugs of cotton-wool insorted into the p r o x i m a l end of t h e pipette. REFERENCES. [1] Lm,cc/, 1934, il, 756. [2J Ibid., 1932, i, 74:.
LOCAL
HOME OFFICE. The following Statutory Rules and Orders have been issued :-2%'0. 889 amending the Silicosis and Asbcstosls (LIedical Arrangements) Scheme, 1931, with regard to the medical examination of workmen engaged for employment in certain branches of the Refractories Industries. No. 1063 amending the fees under the Silicosis and Asbestosis (Medical Fees) Regulations, 1931, as amended by the Silicosis and Asbestosis (Medical Fees)Amendmev t Regulation, 1933. hro. 1155 amendlug the Various Industries (Silicosis) Scheme, 1931, to include " A n y operation underground in any coal mine."
METHODS.
AUTHORITIES. CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.
REPORT ON TUBERCULOSIS FOR THE YEAR 1933.
Dr. G. B. Dixon, Chief Clinical Tuberculosis Officer, reports that the number of notified cases of tuberculosis was 1,486--a case rate of 1.4: per thousand, which is the lowest yet recorded. At the first visit to a fresh case it was discovered that 771 patients out of 1,640 were sharing a bed with some other person, while 50"2 others shared a bedroom but hada separate bed. At the Anti.Tuberculosis Centre, there were 5,040 attendances for supervision, observation and treatment ; 8,588 attendances for consultation and examination ; 6,178 attendanccs for X-ray examinations, and 15,231 attendances for light treatment:" Of the 1,070 primary cases suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis exam-