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APPENDIX E.—REPORTS OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH IN
REGARD TO THE FOLLOWING CONGRESSES.
Royal Institute of Public Health. Zurich. 15th to 20th May, 1929.
Royal Sanitary Institute. Sheffield. 13th to 20th July, 1929.
National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis.
1. Conference on Hygiene and Welfare of Merchant Seamen. Geneva. 7th to 9th
October, 1929.
2. Fifteenth Annual Conference. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 10th to 12th October, 1929.
(Ordered to be circulated to Members of the Sanitary Committee, 22nd October, 1929.)
22nd October, 1929.
To the Worshipful The Sanitary Committee.
Gentlemen,
CONGRESS OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
ZURICH, 1929.
This Congress was held from May l0th 20th, and the Corporation, as Sanitary Authority, was
represented thereat by Mr. E. H. Dutton, Mr. Cyril Gamon and your Medical Officer.
Of the varied papers presented and personalities displayed in them and their delivery, might
be selected, because of the vivid impression conveyed, that of Professor Bloch, a master in the subject
of " allergy," or that condition in which the body is rendered acutely sensitive to some substance
which to the vast majority of people is quite harmless or even beneficial. Among other cases, Professor
Bloch cited that of a man who presented a persistent and disfiguring eczema of the face which, when
traced to its source, originated in a match constantly held between the teeth in the course of his
employment. With the cessation of this habit of holding the match, the chronic eczema disappeared
completely. Wood chips bound on the arm of this sensitized person produced a wheal and thus clinched
the habit as the source of the disease. The professor is a pioneer in such experiment in and the cure
of disease : one is honoured in having held the post of recording secretary in the section in which he
spoke.
Mr. Dunlop Young contributed and read a paper in the Veterinary section.
To obtain the full benefit of this, as all congresses, it is good to be lodged in the immediate neighbourhood
of the majority of the delegates. The situation of this town and the facilities given by its
university afforded a useful combination in the success of this congress.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health.
22nd October, 1929.
To the Worshipful the Sanitary Committee.
Gentlemen,
CONGRESS OF THE ROYAL SANITARY INSTITUTE,
SHEFFIELD, JULY 13th—20th.
During the whole week of the Congress the direction of a light air left the town open to the blaze
of sun and clear skies of this summer—an unexpected event in Sheffield.
The Corporation, as Sanitary Authority, was represented by your Chairman, Mr. H. J. Gower,
Mr. Cyril Gamon, and your Medical Officer. The papers represented all that is best in the forward
movement and consolidation of the sanitary position. Your Medical Officer acted as recording secretary
of the Hygiene of Food Section. ,
The delegation was housed with the Council of the Society, and this alone would have ensured
the success of a meeting which even otherwise was not in doubt as' to its utility.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health.