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The restrictions as to non-interference with the patients, as well as the permissive
character of the disinfection while having advantages in paving the way for an extension of
notification have the disadvantage of restricting greatly the action which might be taken,
especially as regards disinfection.
While disinfection has been accepted in a few cases during the lifetime of the patients,
it has been insisted on after death and change of residence.
The number of rooms disinfected for phthisis during 1903 was 46.
Shellfish and Typhoid Fever.
No case of typhoid fever occurring in Bermondsey during 1903 was directly traced to the
ingestion of shellfish. Still, owing to the action of the Corporation of London the matter was
brought prominently before this Council. I brought up the following report on April 28th, and
am still of opinion that the matter is a very important one, and that oyster beds and places
where shellfish of various sorts are cultivated should be the subject of immediate legislation.
In the report on the above subject by the Sanitary and Port of London Sanitary Joint
Committee they have adduced ample evidence of sewage contamination in oysters and
cockles. In one case typhoid bacilli have actually been found. They recommend that
the Local Government Board be asked to introduce a Bill into Parliament giving power
to the Port Sanitary Authorities which have layers within their limits to deal with these
when they show any evidence of contamination. The Corporation of London ask us to
support this recommendation.
The Committee did not make any recommendation the last time the matter was
brought before them, but on the fresh evidence of contamination which has been
produced I would recommend that the Committee support this recommendation.
Anthrax.
Eight cases of anthrax occurred in connection with this Borough during the year 1903.
Six came to my knowledge through certificates from the Home Office, and the remaining two
came direct from Guy's Hospital. Five of them were due undoubtedly to foreign hides ; in three
of these the hides were from China, one from Russia, and one from the Cape.
In one case the man was employed at a wharf where tinned goods were received, and the
only possible source of infection would seem to be the strips of hide which bound the boxes, or
else that the wood of the boxes was infected.
One case occurred at Gun and Shot Wharf, which does not usually, but occasionally, lands
hides. In the eighth case the source of infection cannot be traced. Some days previous to the
notification of the disease the patient had been employed for a couple of hours with a leather
merchant in Railway Approach, but as he was dealing with finished hides this was probably not
the source.
A ninth case was reported, but I have not included this among the Bermondsey cases as
it was a child of 3 years who was only in this Borough one day, and the relatives gave this
address to the Guy's Hospital authorities. The case belonged to Southwark.
In all these cases the pustule developed either on the neck or the side of the face, and was
evidently caused by the bacillus of anthrax being conveyed by the finger nails to these parts.
The neck is particularly liable to have small pustules due to irritation of the collar, and if the
hands happen to be infected it is very easy to imagine how it is conveyed to the parts in question.
Bills drawn up by myself, at the request of the Public Health Committee, were given to each
firm, and the precaution as to the importance of early treatment of all pustules contained therein
was evidently carried out, since in all the cases except one the patient underwent prompt treatment
at Guy's Hospital and recovered. In one case the treatment was delayed with the result
that the patient died of general anthrax poisoning. The poison is quite local at first, but very
soon becomes generalised if not promptly removed.
Lead Poisoning.
Two cases of lead poisoning came to my knowledge during the year. The following are
the reports submitted to the Public Health Committee: —
" I was informed by the Medical Officer of Health of Southwark that M. H., of
Clifton Buildings, in that Borough, was suffering from lead poisoning. He works at
Messrs. Miles, I)ruce & Co.'s, Long Lane. I have visited this place and found that the
man has been there three years and had an attack of lead poisoning previous to coming
to this firm. He contracted the complaint while at work dipping the ends of drums in
lead. It seems there have been very few cases of lead poisoning in connection with
this firm. They are taking the ordinary precautions of providing the men with nail
brushes, basins, eoap and towels, so that they can always keep their hands clean before
taking meals. In these cases it is mostly through the medium of the hands that lead
gains access to the system.
On October 12th notification was received from Guy's Hospital that T. W., 31 years,
male, living in St. James's Road, was suffering from lead poisoning. I visited the
house and found the patient was an in-patient at Guy's Hospital with acute lead
poisoning, and that he was potman at a public-house close by. In view of finding a
possible source of infection I visited the public-house and was informed that two or
three weeks before the patient's illness he had taken to drinking considerable quantities
of cider. This drink, as is well known, is liable to dissolve and hold in solution any
lead with which it may come in contact, and the publican, who showed himself very
willing to afford me facilities in the inquiry, gave me a pint of the cider, which I
submitted to the Public Analyst.