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47
A number of persons who had proceeded to St. Pancras after having been in contact
with small-pox and other dangerous diseases (mostly on shipboard) were reported and kept
under observation, with negative results in all cases.
Anthrax in Shaving Brushes.
In the latter part of 1919 certain cases of anthrax (not in St. Pancras) occurred, which
were believed to be due to the use of shaving brushes imported from Japan. Anthrax
germs were found in the brushes, which were believed to be made from horse-hair infected
with anthrax discharges. The brushes were made in imitation of badger-hair brushes.
Enquiry was made at various shops in the borough, and brushes from the suspicious source,
to the number of 33½ doz., were found at 16 shops. The owners of the brushes were induced
to give up the brushes for destruction.
By Order in Council, dated 9th February, 1920, the importation of Japanese
shaving brushes into this country was forbidden.
In February, 1921, in consequence of a letter from the Ministry on the subject, a
circular letter was sent to all chemists, barbers, and other retailers who might be selling
shaving brushes in St. Pancras, indicating the action which they should take with a view to
the prevention of danger from infected Japanese brushes.
TRACHOMA.
In November, 1920, the Ophthalmic Registrar at University College Hospital informed
the Medical Officer of Health of certain cases of Trachoma in a Grower Street lodging house.
On enquiries being made it was found that in the house there were four cases (aged 24, 15, 7
and 5) in a party of Syrians, and 4 cases (all adults) in a party of Mesopotamian Armenians.
The two parties were en route from the East to Canada and the United States, respectively.
They had been admitted into this country, and were precluded from embarking for
America on account of the immigration laws of Canada and the United States in regard to
trachoma. Ultimately some of the cases were able to get through, while the remainder
proceeded to another London address. The appropriate medical officer of health was duly
informed. The Ministry of Health were advised of the facts and their attention called to the
undesirability of cases of trachoma being allowed to enter this country under such circumstances.
INFLUENZA.
The force of the pandemic of 1918 and 1919 had spent itself in the latter year so far
as St. Pancras was concerned. In 1920, 46 deaths were certified as due to Influenza.
In the table on the next page the deaths from influenza, and from heart diseases,
bronchitis, pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis (causes of death which were found to
vary in fatality with influenza) are set out for each week in 1918, 1919, and 1920.
DIARRHŒA AND ENTERITIS.
54 deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis were registered during 1920, equal to a deathrate
of 0.23 per 1,000 population.
Of these, 44 were in children under five years of age, and 37 in babies under one.