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my notice, the sufferer was away from her work for a couple
of months.
The prevention of these troubles in the fur industry is a
difficult problem, and can only be done by the furriers taking
extreme care in the finishing and dyeing processes with particular
attention to washing. This is especially necessary after "brush
dyeing."
The furriers enjoy some degree of immunity because of the
difficulty of tracing the furs to the origin. The retailer is not
always able to trace the wholesaler from whom the fur was
purchased, and between the wholesaler and the furrier, the skins
may have passed through many hands, especially in the case of
cloth coats trimmed with fur collars.
A suggestion has been made that the symptoms—rashes—are
due to "anaphylaxis." Anaphylaxis is a term used to indicate
a hypersensitiveness some human beings acquire to certain animal
and vegetable proteins. It has been invoked to explain obscure
phenomena in certain diseases. In these cases, anaphylaxis can
be ruled out, as the symptoms appeared only in skins which had
been dyed, and have not been caused in the natural furs.
HOSPITAL PROVISION.
General.—The Acton Hospital in Gunnersbury Lane accommodates
fifty beds and has a resident Medical Officer. The War
Memorial of the district took the form of an extension to the
Hospital, and the new buildings were opened in July, 1923, by Mr.
Neville Chamberlain, who was the Minister of Health at the time.
In addition to the general wards and the out-patient department,
it also has private and semi-private wards which are reserved for
" paying patients."
Fever.—The Isolation Hospital has accommodation for 80
patients. The diseases treated are Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, and
Measles.
Small Pox.—The district forms one of the constituent bodies of
the Middlesex Small Pox Board.
Nursing; Facilities.—In addition to the various nursing associations
in the district, there is a district nurse resident in the
general hospital, who is available for the home nursing of patients
who do not require the whole-time services of a nurse, or who
cannot afford the fees of a whole-time nurse.
Ambulance Facilities.—There is a motor ambulance for the
removal of infectious cases.
An arrangement exists with the Chiswick Council for the use
of the Chiswick Ambulance for the transport of street accident
cases.