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model town to other Boroughs in many sanitary respects; and
it would be pleasant in after years to be able to say that this
Borough also led the way in the matter of protective inoculation
against respiratory diseases, and thereby set an example for the
rest of England to follow.
Puerperal Fever.—There were 4 notifications of this infection
during the year.
Ophthalmia neonatorum.—This acute inflammation of the
eyes of newly-born children was notified on 6 occasions. The
condition is generally gonorrheal. The Health Visitors visited
the cases.
Tuberculosis.—During the year 103 cases of tuberculosis were
notified. Although the administrative control of this disease
is in the hands of the Middlesex County Council, we take every
opportunity of disinfecting those houses from which a case of
tuberculosis has gone, and offer disinfection also from time to
time during the illness. During the year 84 rooms which had
been occupied by tuberculous people were disinfected, and 438
articles were sterilised by steam.
Disinfection.—During the year 601 rooms were disinfected
by sulphur or formalin, and 8,312 articles were passed through
the Council's steam disinfector. In addition to these, 156
articles were destroyed after infectious and other diseases.
Fur Dermatitis.—A case of Fur Dermatitis, an unusual condition,
was brought to my notice during the year.
Fur Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin caused by the
wearing of furs in contact with the skin. The inflammation of
the skin generally comes on within 24 hours of wearing the fur;
if the wearing of the fur is discontinued the inflammation subsides,
but is renewed again when the fur is next worn. The
inflammation of the skin is caused by the dye used during the
process of manufacture of the fur. It is not necessary that the
fur should smell unpleasant in order that it may cause skin
inflammation: just as there is no odour to mustard, but this
substance, like those used for the dyeing of furs, may give rise to
acute inflammation of the skin. The person affected by the
fur was easily cured, and the sellers of the fur exchanged her
garment for one of better and safer quality.