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108
APPENDIX I.
REPORT OF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH TO
MINISTRY OF HEALTH ON OUTBREAK
OF FOOD POISONING.
Late in the afternoon of Friday, 21st September, I received a
message from the Medical Officer in charge of a large gas works at
East Greenwich that a number of employees had been taken ill
complaining of abdominal pains, extreme flatulence, and severe
diarrhœa, but no vomiting.
On investigating the matter I ascertained that on the previous
day (Thursday, 20th September) the mid-day dinner was served
in the Work's Canteen to some 295 employees, embracing men from
all departments including the clerical staff. Of this number some
275 partook of boiled leg of pork, pease pudding, carrots and
potatoes followed by apple tart. The remainder had chops or steak
and potatoes, and were not affected.
No complaint was made during dinner, but on Friday morning
the men began to complain of the above symptoms, the total number
affected being 51, of whom six were so ill that they had to be sent
home. The remainder kept at work and on Saturday morning had
quite recovered. The other six were still away on Saturday morning,
but so far I have not received any notification of food poisoning
from any general practitioner.
In the meantime, with the exception of the apple tart, I secured
samples of the food stuff concerned, and submitted the same for
bacteriological examination. No uncooked portions of meat were
available for inspection, but the cook informed me that " the meat
looked splendid." Enquiries and examination as to the health of the
kitchen staff revealed no case of recent illness, and I have no reason
to suspect anyone as being a carrier of infection, bacterial or otherwise.
The food was prepared in the kitchen and cooked by gas. The
meat was cut into appropriate portions, of which one portion was
cooked in a tin boiler with enamel plates at the bottom. The
remainder was cooked in an iron pot. The enamel plates were in
good condition, free from chips or cracks. Altogether there were
about 95 lbs. cooked.