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47
(Poster enclosed in Letter.)
BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.
Public Health Department.
To Brushmakers and Others working with China, Russian, and
Siberian Hair.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ANTHRAX.
Anthrax is a fatal disease affecting certain animals, and may be conveyed
from them to man by the manipulation of the hair of animals
which have died of the disease. In China, Russia, and Siberia the
disease is common, and infected hair (which does not differ from other
hair in appearance) is often shipped to British ports. Hence in
handling such hair, especially mane hair, care should be observed.
The disease is usually communicated to man by the poison lodging
in some point where the skin is broken, such as a fresh cut or a scratched
pimple or even chapped hands. This happens most readily on the uncovered
parts of the body—the hand, arm and face—but most frequently
of all on the neck. Infection may also be brought about by rubbing or
scratching a pimple with the hand or nail carrying the anthrax poison.
The first symptom of anthrax is usually a small inflamed swelling
like a pimple or boil, often quite painless, which extends and in a few
days becomes black at the centre and surrounded by other pimples. The
poison is then liable to be absorbed into the system and will cause risk to
life. This can only be avoided by prompt and effective medical treatment
in the early stage of the disease while the poison is still confined to the
pimple. Hence it is of the utmost importance that a doctor should be
at oncc consulted or the Medical Officer of Health should be communicated
with if there is any suspicion of infection.
G. B. Millson,
Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Office,
Borough Road.