Mr. W. H. Power’s Report to the Local Government Board
respecting a Special Mortality among Infants at Loughton,
in the Epping Rural Sanitary District.
EDWARD C. SEATON, M.D.,
_Medical Department_,
_April_ 15, 1878.
On the 22nd March 1878, complaint was made by Mr. Octavius Deacon, of
Golding’s Hill, Loughton, to Mr. Secretary Cross, that a serious attack
by skin disease of his own infant had resulted from the use for nursery
purposes of violet powder, which on analysis by Mr. G. Jones, F.C.S., had
been found to contain in large proportion white arsenic; and further, Mr.
Deacon stated his belief that a large and fatal prevalence of skin
disease among infants in Loughton had been due to the use in a similar
way of violet powder of a like sort. This representation was referred by
Mr. Cross to the Local Government Board. On 25th March the Board
received a communication from the clerk to the Epping Rural Sanitary
Authority enclosing a statement by the Medical Officer of Health to the
effect that a special mortality among infants in his district, already
reported by him, had, he has now reason to believe, resulted from the use
of violet powder impregnated with arsenic. Hereupon the present inquiry
was ordered.
I lost no time in putting myself in communication with Mr. Deacon and
with the several officers of the Epping Rural Sanitary Authority, and
from them received every assistance in carrying out my inquiry.
Especially am I beholden to Mr. Fowler, medical officer of health, who
has supplied me with important information respecting the occurrences
resulting in the mortality referred to; and to Mr. Bell, inspector of
nuisances, who has accompanied and assisted me day by day during my
investigations. To Mr. Lewis district medical officer, and to other
medical men practising in Loughton, my acknowledgments are also due.