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135
He had swelling of the cervical glands. Patient was treated
with Sclavo's serum and deemitized ipecac. He was discharged
cured 14th June, 1914. Bacteriologist failed to find Anthrax
Bacilli in exudate from Pustule."
Business of the Curled Hair Manufacturing Co.—This firm
treats hair of different kinds, viz., pig hair, cattle hair, and,
occasionally horse hair, so as to make it suitable for upholstery
work.
The process carried on is briefly as follows :—The hair arrives
on the premises in sacks, usually in a very dirty condition. It is
removed from the sacks and washed in a strong solution (5 per
cent.) of Cyllin, then transferred to a tank of water, to which a dye
with other ingredients and Cyllin are added, and boiled for several
hours. After this, copperas is added to the water and the boiling
continued for another hour. The tanks containing the hair are
then left standing for seven hours, and the liquid run off. The
dyed hair is then removed from the tank, taken to a wash-house
and laid out to dry. When dry, it has a resemblance to black horse
hair. This hair is made up into ropes by means of a spinning
machine, then made wet by immersion in cold water, and finally
baked in an oven. The baking gives a permanent curl or crimp to
the hair, and makes it suitable for stuffing furniture.
This is the process which took place on the premises when the
business was first established in the Borough ; but owing to
complaints of nuisance arising from the initial processes of cleaning
and dyeing, these have ceased to be carried on there. I am
assured by the proprietor of the business that since August, 1913,
curling only has been done on the premises, the hair arriving
already cleansed and dyed.
Source of Infection.—As in many cases human anthrax
arises in connection with some industrial process in which animal
hair of different kinds is manipulated, suspicion naturally points
to the business in which the patient had been employed as being
probably the source of infection.