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Food Poisoning.
Under section 7 of the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1932, medical practitioners are
required to notify all cases of food poisoning, whether
suspected or definite cases, to the Medical Officer of
Health of the Metropolitan Borough in which the patient
resides. All medical practitioners in Fulham were notified
of the effect of the Act on its coming into force.
At one time it was thought that the commonest type
of food poisoning was that due to ptomaines but it is
now known that food poisoning is most commonly caused
by the Salmonella group of bacteria or their toxins,
which produce an acute inflammation of the stomach
and intestines. The illness commences several hours
after food and is usually characterised by vomiting,
purging, colicky pains in the abdomen and other
symptoms.
In order to verify the diagnosis either bacteriological
examination of the intestinal evacuations or vomited
matter, or examination of the blood is necessary. In
mild cases the diagnosis is often made on clinical evidence
but this cannot be relied on unless supported by