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tamination of the sausages. In the meantime, a specimen of faeces obtained before death was
bacteriologically examined and cultures obtained were sent to Dr. Scott, pathologist to the
Ministry of Health, who stated that bacillus aertrycke had been isolated and that he suspected
that this was originally present in a duck's egg. It was then ascertained that the deceased had
partaken of a duck's egg which was stated to be one of a consignment imported from the continent.
Eight eggs of the consignment, however, failed to reveal organisms which could be
considered pathogenic.
It is interesting to note that about the same time three members of a family
in Poplar were admitted to hospital suffering from food poisoning, and serological
tests carried out in one of the Council's laboratories suggested that bacillus aertrycke
was probably the cause. The food suspected in this instance was duck egg, probably
imported.
Five cases of botulism occurred in St. Pancras early in August as a result of the
patients consuming " vegetable nut mixture." Four of the cases proved fatal,
the patients dying on the day of admission to hospital. The fifth patient recovered.
A further fatal case of botulism occurred in Hammersmith in August.
The food suspected in this case was meat and potato pie. This case was in no way
connected with the cases in St. Pancras.
Botulism is a disease produced only by the eating of food containing the botulinus
toxin. This toxin is produced by the bacillus botulinus growing in foods improperly
processed ; that is to say, food contained in closed jars or cans which have not been
subjected to adequate heat of sufficient duration or under sufficient pressure.
Sporadic cases or groups of cases occur from time to time in all countries and always
in relation to some perishable food product which has been so kept or preserved
as to permit the development, under partial anaerobic conditions, of the bacillus
botulinus, to the extent of forming the toxin that causes the disease.

In 4 cases (2 male, 2 female) the ages were not stated.

Tuberculosis.
The deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis in London during 1935 numbered
2,847, giving a death.rate of .68 per thousand living. This is the lowest death.rate
from pulmonary tuberculosis ever recorded in London, the corresponding figures
for 1934 being 3,227 and .76, respectively, and 3,530 and .82 for 1933. There were
359 deaths from other forms of tuberculosis in 1935 as against 455 in 1934 and 466
in 1933, the death.rates being .09, .11 and .11, respectively.