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29
Enquiries as to the probable source of infection showed
that Milk could certainly be excluded, as in eleven of the affected
households some brand of condensed milk was alone used and the
others were supplied by seven retail vendors who appeared to
obtain their milk from different sources, nor could anything be
elicited tending to throw suspicion on any of the following
articles of food, which have been shown to be associated at
times with the origin of Typhoid Fever.
Ice Creams.
In four cases the parents thought it very probable that the
children had eaten ice creams, but beyond this there was no
evidence against them, and the age incidence of the outbreak is
against the supposition that ice creams had any connection
with it.
Shell Fish.
In only two instances was there any history of shell fish
having been eaten within a fortnight or so of the commencement
of the illness, and in each case these were also partaken of by
several other members of the family who were unaffected.
Fried Fish.
An epidemic of Enteric Fever in South London in the
autumn of 1900 was probably connected with the consumption
of fried fish, but there was nothing in connection with these
cases pointing in that direction.
Uncooked Vegetables, &c.
An outbreak of Typhoid in Hackney last summer was
shown by the Medical Officer of Health to have been probably
due to the consumption of watercress which had been grown in
sewage polluted water, and five of the patients were in the habit
of eating watercress and other salads, but probably an equal
proportion of the rest of the population would be found at this
season of the year to be watercress eaters.