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In examining the foregoing table it will be appreciated that in the month of
September only the amount of deposit registered as falling in the City amounted to
18.33 tons per square kilometre, which is equal (estimating the City as having an
area of one square mile) to no less than about 47 tons avoirdupois.
Of this mass of dirt, approximately 23¾ tons were soluble, and included the
chemicals mentioned, and 23¼ tons were insoluble and consisted of tar, carbon and grit.
In addition to the foregoing, a daily observation has been made at mid-day at
the Guildhall of the purity of the air by a modern dry method, by which the suspended
matter can be readily demonstrated.
From the 1st January until the 31st December the amount of the impurity at
noon has varied from half a milligramme to six milligramme's per cubic metre of air;
this latter figure includes times when there has been a fog.
It is interesting to compare the results of similar observations made at other
places, as for example, Malvern and Sheffield, where results are widely divergent.
The value of the work being carried on in connection with the examination of the
atmosphere in the City is evident, and the details recorded indicate the necessity of its
continuation.
ANTHRAX-INFECTED SHAVING BRUSHES.
Work in connection with the supervision of infected shaving brushes has continued
during the year under review. This has mainly been in the direction of ascertaining
whether certain brushes were still stored and encouraging destruction in bulk. So
far over 13,000 brushes have been destroyed, and it may interest other Medical Officers
of Health to know that the pattern numbers of such brushes were as follows:—
5238, 1736, 5024, 7065, 9011, 9013,1223, 1224, 1224a, 5907.
A suggestion was made during the year that certain brushes, presumablv of
Japanese origin, were being displayed for sale on stalls and barrows in the City.
Continued observation, however, has failed to justify this suggestion, and the
observations of the Inspector, with like results, extended also to stalls and barrows
which he noted outside the Citv boundaries.
In another case brushes, not of Japanese origin, were mistaken for such brushes,
but as no identification mark was available, specimen brushes were taken in a few
instances and submitted to bacteriological examination with negative result.
Japanese shaving brushes are now prohibited by Order from entering this country,
either by direct or circuitous route, and the Ministry of Health have issued a Letter
to all Medical Officers of Health describing the course of action which should be taken.
It seems futile to disinfect brushes subsequent to manufacture, as no method would
appear to be available on which complete confidence could be based without exposing
the brush to risk of such damage that it becomes unsaleable. With suitable
qualification and warning the Circular. Letter referred to describes a method of partial
disinfection, namely:—
(a) Thoroughly wash brush with soap and warm water containing a little washing
soda, then allow to stand for half-an-hour in warm water containing a little soda.
(b) Place in a warm solution of formaldehyde (one part of 40 per cent. formalin
and 16 parts water— a 2½ per cent. solution of formaldehyde) for half-an-hour.
(c) Allow to dry.
EXHUMATION AND RE-INTERMENT OF BODIES AT THE
CITY OF LONDON CEMETERY.
During the year the bodies of seven persons buried at the City of London Cemetery
at Ilford have been exhumed. Six of these were re-interred in other parts of the same
cemetery, and one was removed to Nunhead Cemetery.
In accordance with the terms of the Licences issued by the Home Secretary in
respect of these cases the work of removal and re-interment was carried out in the
early morning under the supervision of your Medical Officer of Health.