1914 would appear to be the start of the expansion of modern pathology in the UK. The Insurance Act of 1911 sowed the seed for state supported health care with the expansion of social care and
diagnostics.
I am trying to conjure up an image of a typical pathology lab in 1914.
In my mind, there was one pathologist, trained in cellular pathology, haematology, microbiology and chemistry, with an assistant.
Cellular pathology were in the shadow of Carl von Rokitansky and Rudolf Virchow (who wasn’t a great fan of chemical pathologists!), and the discipline had the light microscope, paraffin wax, the
use of formalin, and some basic stains. They were able to fix and stain u and investigate tissue and use microscopy to diagnose some diseases.
Microbiology had agglutination tests, microscopy, Gram stain, agar plates and petri dishes. They were able to identify certain infectious agents such as enteric fever.
Haematology used the microscope to look at blood cells.
Biochemistry started analysing blood by about 1912 when venepuncture as we know it came into use. Blood tests for uric acid, bilirubin, creatinine using the Duboscq visual colorimeter were introduced
around that time.
About 1000 tests per year were performed in a busy lab.
Does this seem about right?
martin
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