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57
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In eight cases the patients partook of watercress shortly
before the onset of the illness, but only in two was it possible to
trace the source of the watercress.
The probability of infection by eating watercress is not
great, but examination of one source in the neighbourhood shows
that such cause of infection is not impossible.
The chart shows the number of cases notified in each week
during the year.
The following report was made to the Council with regard
to the sale in this Borough of a number of Army blankets which
had been returned from South Africa : —
On the 22nd May I received a communication from the
Medical Officer of Health for the City of London, stating that a
certain number of Army blankets had been sold to a dealer in this
Borough. I instructed the Sanitary Inspectors to visit all places
of business in the Borough where such goods were likely to be
kept, and this was done the same day. In three places Army
blankets were found and these were at once sent to the Disinfecting
Station, disinfected by steam, and returned to the
owners. One dealer, however, had disposed of a considerable
number outside the Borough, a few having been purchased by
emigrants to Canada. Information was sent to the Authorities
of the places in England, and the Agent-General for Canada was
also informed. In the course of the inquiries one of the Inspectors
ascertained that one of the dealers, although he had only
purchased one blanket, had also purchased about one hundred
india-rubber ground sheets, 47 of which were still in his possession,
the rest having been sold to supposed emigrants to Canada.
These 47 sheets were examined, and found to be in a very dirty
condition, all being very badly stained, the stains having been
caused by blood or other discharges. I examined the whole of
the 47 sheets myself at the Disinfecting Station, and considered
that nothing short of total destruction would be satisfactory. The
owner expressed his willingness to have these destroyed, and this
was accordingly done.
These india-rubber sheets were no doubt used in hospitals
in South Africa, as on 25 of them the names, and in many instances
the regiment, were written. A copy of these names were taken in
case of further inquiry.