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"Thursday, 24th July, 1902, but he seems positive he was not. He was at work
"all day Friday, 25th July, until 7 p.m. He felt no irritation on face till
"after he left work on Friday, 25th July, 1902, and then noticed a white blister,
"which he picked off. The blister was on right cheek. His face commenced to
"swell on Monday, 28th July, 1902. He went to Guy's Hospital on Tuesday,
"29th July, 1902, and was admitted on Wednesday, 30th July, 1902. On
"Friday, 25th July, 1902, he worked on the wharf at Fresh Wharf, carrying
"boxes of fruit, Ac. He was not on any ship, and saw no hides or skins. His
"movements for some time previous to 23rd July, 1902, are as follows:— He
"had to report himself daily to the Orange Porters' Society, and some days
"he obtained work, and the other days he was idle. He has been working in
"this way for the last four years. He is positive he has handled no skins for a
"long time past, and is acquainted with the strips of hide used to bind the ends
"of fruit boxes.
"His father-in-law and brother-in-law reside in the same house as patient,
"and are employed in a skin warehouse at Davis' Wharf, Tooley Street. Nothing
"is brought to the house from the warehouse. He has no idea as to probable
"source of infection."
2nd August, 1902.
The strip of hide referred to above was submitted to a bacteriological
examination by Dr. Klein, who reported as under : —
6th August, 1902.
"The greater part of the piece of hide sent was rubbed down into
"powder, and with this an emulsion was made ; one part of this was heated to
"80° C. for ten minutes, the other part left unheated. The heating was used in
"order to destroy all non-sporing microbes and to leave the spore of Anthrax,
"if any, untouched.
"Both from the heated and unheated emulsion an agar plate was made, and
"from each portion of the emulsion, thick and very turbid, one guinea-pig and
"one mouse were inoculated, large doses being used for the inoculation.
"The plates were examined after 24, after 48, and after 72 hours; large
"numbers of colonies were examined, but no colonies resembling Anthrax could
"be found. After four days the animals are still well and lively.
"E. KLEIN."
The above particulars were at once forwarded to the Medical Officer of
Health for Bermondsey, in whose district the patient resided. A copy was
also sent to the Medical Inspector of Factories.
No other cases were reported, and the patient made a good recovery.