London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Camberwell 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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65
of food and other specimens were obtained for bacteriological and
chemical analysis, as well as specimens of the faeces of certain of the
sufferers.
As far as could be ascertained every person affected
The predominating bacteria found at the Pathological Laboratory
of the Ministry of Health was Staphylococcus Aureus.
The hygienic standard of the factory where these articles of
food were prepared for sale was satisfactory, and every precaution
appeared to have been taken by the management to prevent the
possibility of infection occurring in the various processes of preparation
and cooking of the meat foods in question.
The liability of rats causing the infection was inquired into, but
this line of investigation was not conclusive.
Table showing particulars op cases of Food Poisoning notified during The year in accordance with the requirements of the London county Council (General Powers) Act, 1932.
| No. | Date notified. | Food suspected. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15/3/34 | Cocoanut Ice | Patient stated to have always suffered from weak stomach. |
| 2 | 19/4/34 | Fried fish | Illness slight. |
| 3 | 23/4/34 | Tinned herrings | Illness slight. |
| 4 | 14/5/34 | Steak and Kidney pie. | Illness slight. |
| 5 | 17/5/34 | Beef sausages | Illness severe. |
| 6 | 18/5/34 | Faggot | Patient in delicate health. |
| 7 | 22/5/34 | Duck egg | B. Aertrycke isolated from stool. |
| 8 | 5/7/34 | Pork or clotted cream. | Two members of one household. |
| 9 | 5/7/34 | Do. | |
| 10 | 6/7/34 | Tinned salmon | Illness slight. |
| 11 | 18/7/34 | *Stewed Eels | — |
| 12 | 16/7/34 | Tinned salmon | Patient stated to have suffered from digestive disorder for some time. |
| 13 | 7/8/34 | Stewed plums | Illness severe. |
| 14 | 15/8/34 | Fish pie | Illness slight. |
| 15 | 15/8/34 | Pork chops | Illness slight. |
| 16 | 21/9/34 | Fried fish | Illness slight. |
| 17 | 12/8/34 | Sausages | Two members of a family. |
| 18 | 12/8/34 | Do. | |
| 19 | 14/10/34 | Meat pie | Illness slight. |
| 20 | 11/12/34 | Tinned Pineapple | Illness slight. |
| 21 | 19/12/34 | Mince pie | Illness slight. |
| 22 | 29/12/34 | Shell fish | Illness slight. |
*Patient died. The stated cause of death was:—(a) Acute Pulmonary
Oedema, (b) Acute Nephritis.
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