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29
[1933
Death from a "copying-ink" pencil.—Among the "unusual" or rare
causes of death in the Borough during the year one caused by analine dye of a
copying-ink pencil has been noted. It is not realised by the general public that
copying-ink pencils are poisonous, so a few remarks on the case may emphasize
the possible dangers, and ensure perhaps earlier treatment. A man (aged 71) was
engaged at his place of work stamping papers on his desk; the point of a copyingink
pencil, lying alongside, went into his hand. He had the hand dressed at
hospital and subsequently looked after at home. The hand did not pain him and
appeared neither better nor worse for about ten days, then it became very swollen.
He attended hospital again and was admitted, the part was opened under an
anaesthetic, and dressed. While waiting afterwards to have his arm put in a sling
he collapsed and died in a few minutes. In this case the poison had been retained
locally in the hand, but the opening up caused a local distribution and the poison
was distributed throughout the body by the blood stream, reached the heart muscle
and led to death. Other cases of the same sort have been recorded.
CORONER'S COURT, INQUESTS, AND MORTUARY.
During the year 35 bodies were received into the Mortuary, as compared with
an average of 262 in the preceding 10 years.
The daily average number of bodies received was 0.09, whilst in 1932 the
average was 0.1.

The continued unsatisfactory state of affairs and the inconvenience to Islington
citizens which results from the non-use of the Coroner's Court for enquiries into
Islington deaths need not be further commented on here, as the matter was dealt
with in the last Report, page 25.
PREVENTION OF INFECTION.
Notification, Isolation, Fatality, or Specified Diseases under the
Provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
The Principal Diseases Include:—
Small Pox, Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Enteric Fever, Typhus, Continued Fever,
Puerperal Fever and Erysipelas.
2,016 cases of the principal diseases which are notifiable under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, came to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of
Health. This number does not include other communicable ailments, which are
also notifiable. The complete list of infectious diseases which are notifiable in
Islington will be found on page 35. No case of either Typhus or of Continued
Fever was notified.