View report page

131
Specimens of feces of two patients were collected, and
Mr. A. and his son were instructed to collect specimens of their
stools in special containers provided to exclude the possibility of
carrier infection.
26th August.—Thirteen further Finsbury and 15 St. Pancras
cases were notified on this date. One case residing in Holborn
was found by the Inspector. This person, a woman of 55 years,
had taken a ham sandwich in the home of one of the Finsbury
cases. In view of the gravity of the outbreak, all medical
practitioners were notified. The death of a Finsbury case in hospital
was reported. During the outbreak St. Pancras reported further
cases arising from the same source.
The results of the samples taken the previous day were as
follows:—
(a) Three uncooked gammons ... Negative so far.
(b) Breakfast sausage Negative so far.
(c) Corned beef S1. positive B. enteritidis Gaert-
ner.
(d) Two patients Positive B. enteritidis Gaertner.
(e) Interior of uncooked gammon Negative so far.
At this time it was considered that the cooke'd gammon had
either been derived from a diseased animal or had been infected
from some outside animal source, such as rats or mice, or contaminated
meal used for dressing purposes. The corned beef on sale
which had been cut was immediately taken off sale, together with
2 lbs. of cheese and 6 ozs. of breakfast sausage and destroyed.
It will be noted that at this stage the same organisms had
been isolated from the gammons, corned beef and two patients.
Later on in the outbreak the same organism was isolated from
several patients who had been admitted to hospital. All the
knives used in the business, together with the coats worn by
Mr. A. and his son, towels, etc., were taken to the Disinfecting
Station, sterilised and returned to the shop the next day. The
counter, scales and all washable parts of the shop were thoroughly
washed with hot lysol solution.