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contend is that the agglutination test does not
usually become positive until at least seven days
after the onset of the illness and by that time
the patient may have recovered and the doctor
may have ceased his attendance.
The actual source of food poisoning cannot be
determined unless some of the food which has
been consumed remains for examination and unless
this is so the cause can only be presumed.
Facilities are available for medical practitioners
in the Borough for bacteriological and serological
examinations and full investigations are made by
the Public Health Department regarding the
source of infection.
Four cases of food poisoning were notified
during 1933 (on 18th January, 5th April, 6th
April and 31st May respectively). By a remarkable
co-incidence they were all notified by the same doctor.
All were of a very mild character. Two of the
cases occurred in a brother and sister aged 3
years 11 months and 7 years respectively. In
the case of the boy the faeces were. sent to the
laboratory for examination but the report which
was as follows did not substantiate the diagnosis
of food poisoning:—
"This is a loose faeces of dark colour. Gram films show
the usual coliform bacilli, anaerobes and micrococci.
Cultures gave a good growth of B.Coli, a few intestinal
streptococci and exceedingly small numbers of a non-lactose
fermenting bacillus. This last organism simulates more closely
a member of the Dysentry group than any one of the foodpoisoning
(Salmonella) organisms.
The bio-chemical reactions are those of B.Dysentery
(Flexner) Y., and a positive reaction is obtained with a specific
standard agglutinating serum of this type.
Other pathogenic organisms are not found."