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
Greenwich 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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The following table gives particulars of cases notified in detail.
| Case No. | Initials of Patient | Age and Sex | District | Date Notified | Suspected Cause | Whether Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I. P. | 15 F | East Greenwich | 5-7-33 | Jellied Eels | Recovered |
| 2 | L. H. | 17 F | do. | 9-8-33 | Frozen Lamb | do. |
| 3 | W. H. | 14½ M | do. | 9-8-33 | do. | |
| 4 | L. H. | 44 F | do. | 9-8-33 | do. | |
| 5 | R. W. H. | 24 M | do. | 9-8-33 | do. | |
| 6 | H. L. | 60 F | do. | 9-8-33 | Salmon paste | do. |
| 7 | K. T. | 11 F | do. | 29-8-33 | Chip Potatoes | do. |
| 8 | E. F. | 30 F | do. | 29-8-33 | Chip Potatoes | do. |
| 9 | A. M. | 51 M | do. | 31-8-33 | Fried Fish | do. |
| 10 | C. K. | 30 F | do. | 8-9-33 | Fried Fish | do. |
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST THE
SPREAD OF FOOD POISONING.
In connection with the arrangements made with the Medical
Officer of Health for the County of London, information is available
in respect of all cases of Food poisoning occurring in the Metropolitan
area.
On the 14th October particulars of an outbreak of Food poisoning
at St. Pancras were received, from which it appeared the suspected
cause was due to pease-pudding and two cases proved fatal. While
further investigations were being made at St. Pancras the several
Metropolitan Boroughs in whose districts the parts of the original
consignment of split peas had been received, were immediately
notified. In this Borough there were six parts of the suspected consignment, two of which were found to be in the stores of public
institutions. Steps were at once taken to prevent the use or the sale
of the split peas, until samples could be taken and submitted for
chemical and bacteriological analysis. Subsequently, the Public
Analyst reported the samples to be genuine and free from preservatives
and metallic poisons. The report of the Pathologist stated that there
was no evidence of the enteric and food poisoning groups of organisms.
The restrictions placed on the consignments of split peas were therefore released.