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130
Notifications of suspected food poisoning from other practitioners
were received during the day, and other suspicious cases
who had not consulted a medical practitioner were found by the
Sampling Officer in the houses of notified cases; a history of having
eaten ham from the same source was obtained. No portions of the
suspected food actually consumed by the sufferers were available
for examination, except a piece of ham in one St. Pancras case
which was submitted for examination.
The report stated that no organism of the food-poisoning
group was isolated, and no other abnormal coliform organisms
isolated. On culture there was a very marked growth of
staphhylococci, 10 per cent, of which were S. aureus, and 90 per cent.
S. albus. A growth of non-haemolytic streptococci mitis was obtained.
It is known, however, that such food may be contaminated in one
part and not in another, and this would explain the fact that
a number of persons in affected households were not taken ill,
although they had partaken of the suspected food.
The next day, 25th August, 25 further Finsbury and one
St. Pancras cases were notified, and the Ministry of Health
informed of the circumstances of the outbreak. The death of one
case residing in St. Pancras was reported. It was found that
certain cases had only consumed corned beef from the same source,
and no ham. The cooked gammon (taken from sale the previous
day) and the uncooked gammon were reported as being infected
with the B. enteritidis Gaertner. The uncooked gammon was
accordingly taken from the shop. It appeared at this time that
the knife used for cutting the cooked gammon had contaminated
the corned beef, it being admitted that when a customer bought
ham and corned beef the same knife might easily be used for the
latter, and accordingly the knives in use were thoroughly washed
in hot soap and water and soda as well as the counter and scales,
and a slice taken from all articles of unwrapped food, such as
corned beef, butter, breakfast sausage, cheese, and destroyed.
The counter, scales and all washable parts were cleansed with
soap and hot soda water.
Samples of the remaining three uncooked gammons were taken
and a piece from the interior of the first uncooked gammon, and of
corned beef and breakfast sausage.