Report of the Departmental Committee apointed to inquire as to precautions for preventing danger of infection from anthrax in the manipulation of wool, goat hair, and camel hair.

  • Great Britain. Committee on Anthrax.
Date:
1918
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Departmental Committee apointed to inquire as to precautions for preventing danger of infection from anthrax in the manipulation of wool, goat hair, and camel hair. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    350/356 (page 16)
    (b) ExperRIMENTS To Test THE PossiBILITY oF USING MacHINERY For DISINFECTION. Pay In these experiments two types of machinery were the subject of experiment, arrange- ments being made with owners of existing machines to allow the Committee the use of the machines for a few hours. They consisted of automatic mechanism designed for carrying material through solutions, and subsequently drying it. The method followed was to pass hair in tails through a solution of soap and sodium carbonate. The tails of hair were collected as they emerged from the drying part af the machines, and examined. Machine “ A” (Cylinder Machine).—The hair, after treatment in this machine, was clean and greatly improved. The tails were not disturbed, and the hair was not entangled. On return to my factory it was dry hackled with very satisfactory results. It passed freely through the hackles without breaking, and in the drawing process behaved normally. Machine “ B” (Apron Machine).—The hair, after treatment in this machine, was beauti- fully clean and glossy, and greatly improved in appearance. ‘There was a tendency, however, for the butts and tips to be reversed. Apart from this defect, which would involve re-arrangement of the tails by hand (unless by altering the mechanism it could be prevented), the hair was free. It was dry hackled with satisfactory results, although there was some degree of tangling, and in drawing it behaved quite normally. Judging solely by the condition of the hair, machine “A” would be quite suitable for disinfection of horsehair. Machine “B” would require modification (if this be possible) before it could be so used. Basing my opinion on the results of the tests of treated hair carried out in my factory, I have no hesitation in saying that the process of disinfection is quite practicable from a manufacturing point of view. Ripley Manufacturing Company, Ltd., (Signed) J. WILLIAMs, Managing Director. 11. ConcLusions AND RECOMMENDATIONS. The investigation has clearly demonstrated that the process devised for disinfection of wool is efficient as a method of disinfection of horsehair, and can be satisfactorily applied to both mane and tail hair without causing manufacturing difficulties. Certain modifications are necessary in the case of tail hair, but these are simply due to manufacturing necessities and not to defects in the process. We are, therefore, unanimous in advising that this process is suitable for adoption as a method for the compulsory disinfection of horsehair. We have considered whether we should make any further specific recommendations, but we see no reason for modifying the carefully considered proposais contained in Volume II. of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Anthrax which are equally applicable to wool and horsehair.” Questions of detail ought to be dealt with by the authority which the Report recommends should be set up with powers and facilities for enforcing disinfection of wool and hair. The fact has, however, been brought to our notice that large quantities of drawn hair, 1.e., partly manufactured hair, are now imported from China, and further that consignments of shaving brushes made from infected hair are arriving in this country. The preparation of horsehair in China has now become established and the trade in hair partly manufactured in that country is likely to increase at the expense of the raw hair trade. The satisfactory disinfection of such prepared hair and of shaving brushes is impracticable, while the danger to consumers is very great. ‘Two courses only are possible, viz.:—(1) Total prohibition of the import into this country of any manufactured or partly manufactured hair and of goods composed or partly composed of foreign horse or‘goat hair; or (2) the establishment, in the countries from which such goods are imported, of disinfecting stations under the control of a central authority invested with power to enforce disinfection of the raw hair before manufacture. This is a matter of international concern. We have no official information of the incidence of anthrax in other countries from the manipulation or use of infected wool or hair or goods manufactured from them. There appear to be no official statistics of such incidence in most countries abroad nor any system of compulsory notification of cases of anthrax among human beings and animals. Materials similar to those which cause anthrax in this country are, however, used in other countries, and it is impossible to believe that the people of this country alone are susceptible to the disease. Indeed. we have unofficial but necessarily incomplete information of outbreaks of anthrax among human beings in China, India, Constantinople and elsewhere. oe * Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire as to precautions to be taken for prevention of danger from anthrax inthe manipulation of wool, goat hair and camelhair. Vol. I., Report of the Disinfection Sub-Committee [Cd. 9057], 1918, Price 1s. Vol. II, Report of the Committee |Cd. 9171], 1918, Price 6d. Vol. III., Summary of Evidence and Appendices [Cd. 9172], 1918, Price 1s. 6d Published by H.M. Stationery Office, Imperial House, Kingsway, London.