View report page

54
Anthrax—Destruction of Animal Food.
On or about the 28th August, a carcase of a cow, infected with
anthrax, was delivered to an address in Walworth among other meat
intended for animal feeding (Cats' Meat).
A consignment of 70 pounds of meat from this address was
despatched on the above date to a Cat's meat vendor's shop in this
Borough. Owing to prompt notice given to the Public Health Department
by the Police the whole of this consignment was secured and
destroyed.
The premises and all utensils were thoroughly disinfected.
III. Food Poisoning.
The following is an analysis of the notifications received, grouped
according to the causal agent:—
Food. No. of cases.
Pork 3
Tinned Salmon I
Sardines 1
In addition to a copy of each certificate being forwarded to the County
Medical Officer, information in respect of cases of general interest as
affecting the Metropolis as a whole is also transmitted to him.
In any case where a particular food appears to be definitely incriminated,
bacteriological and chemical examination of the food, and
serological examination of the patient's blood, excreta, etc., would be
carried out.
IV. Food Sampling.
In addition to the usual routine procedure by which food samples
are obtained, sampling of milk is also carried out at the South-Eastern
Hospital, the Babies' Hospital, the Maternity Home, and at the public
elementary schools in the Borough. In the case of hospital samples,
the chemical content and bacterial count are ascertained, while the
school supplies are investigated for the presence of tubercle and for
chemical content. Occasional examination for tubercle and chemical
content is also made of milk coming direct to one of the railway
stations.