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34
Anthrax.—One notification of anthrax was received during
the year. The patient worked for a firm of tanners in Bermondsey.
Shortly before he fell ill he noticed a pimple on his neck, and
subsequently a swelling, and he consulted bis medical attendant,
who sent him to the London Hospital, where he was detained,
The patient had been engaged on transferring East Indian hides
from water to the lime pits; at that time his employers were
dealing with out 1,000 hides a day. Formerly hides from China
were also imported; but fearing importation of anthrax, the firm
abandoned the China skins, and it was a great surprise to them
when this case occurred in connection with East India skins.
These skins are not in such a cleanly condition as hides obtained
from Java. The East India hides arrive in a thoroughly dried
state and consist of two kinds, viz., those dried and treated with
arsenic, and those dried and salted—just common salt—as much
as the hides can take. The firm was not acquainted with any
instance among their employees of symptoms of arsenical poisoning.
The patient remained under treatment at the London Hospital
and eventually recovered.
LONDON (NOTIFICATION OF GLANDERS) ORDER, 1907.
One notification of glanders in animals in the Borough was
received from the Veterinary Inspectors of the London County
Council during 1920.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Influenza.—During 1920 there were 85 deaths in the Borough.
This is a decline of 80 on the deaths from this cause registered
during 1919. The annual mortality rate from influenza is 0.37
per 1,000 inhabitants.
Influenza, unless complicated by pneumonia, is not notifiable.