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22
Japan might be the cause. Thinking this over
and remembering that prior to the War I had
been called in to see a case hereabouts of suspected
Anthrax, I decided to have enquiries made of all
hairdressers and barbers in the district as to all
purchases of shaving brushes within six months,
and addresses of firms from whom purchased. A
ful return was obtained, but in no case have I
ascertained that any of these firms were under
suspicion.
About a fortnight after this incident I
received a copy of a communication sent to the
County Medical Officer by the Medical Officer of
Health of one of the London Borough Councils to
the effect that he had been advised by the Medical
Officer of Health of the City of London that on a
certain date " a consignment of shaving brushes
suspected of being infected with Anthrax was
supplied by a manufacturing company in the City
to a wholesale firm in the Borough of which he was
Medical Officer of Health." " Further, that on
making enquiries it appeared that some portion
of the brushes in question had been sold to firms
within the County of Surrey." The County
Medical Officer of Surrey thereupon sent me a
copy of this letter and the address of a firm in my
district who had purchased. This was not a hairdresser,
but I called at once and found that they
had " sold four of the brushes, but as they were
cash transactions they had no knowledge as to the
purchasers." I thereupon had a second enquiry