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92
At present there is not sufficient evidence to prove actual injury to health
from the accumulated effects of small doses of tin taken over a lengthy period,
though it is quite clear that such quantities may be sufficient to produce
severe illness in consequence of local irritation.
Canned fruits, which are specially liable to act on tin, examined between
one and two years from the date of canning, were not found in any case to
contain more than one grain of tin to the pound of fruit.
The Report suggests that the presence in the contents of a sample can, of
tin in quantities approaching two grains to the pound may be taken to signify
that the food has become potentially deleterious to health, and calls for
further examination of other samples with a view to dealing with the
consignment in accordance with the results obtained.
CONTAMINATED OYSTERS.
As in former years, several cases were brought to my notice where cases of
enteric fever were attributed to the consumption of contaminated oysters.
Experience has shown that in single cases it is generally an exceedingly
difficult matter to satisfactorily trace any connection between shellfish and
reported cases of illness.
On the 12th November a case of this kind was reported from Paddington,
where the suspected oysters were stated by the local dealer to have been
obtained from a salesman at Billingsgate Market. Upon investigating the
matter it was ascertained that the oysters in question were of French origin,
and had been relaid at Brightlingsea for more than a year.
A sample from the same source was submitted to Dr. Klein, who reported
as follows:—
"Of eight oysters, seven contained B. coli communis.
"Of four specially examined, three contained Stroptococci.
"Of two specially examined, both contained Enteritidis sporogenes.
"Result.—Oysters distinctly polluted."
These facts were brought to the notice of the Fishmongers' Company, who
at once obtained an undertaking from the dealer at Brightlingsea to
discontinue the sale of these oysters.
A case of a similar kind was reported from Eastbourne on the 19th
November. In this instance the person attacked with enteric fever had
consumed a quantity of oysters within the incubation period, which were
stated to have been supplied by two firms in Billingsgate Market, from one of
which the oysters referred to in the previous case at Paddington had been
obtained.