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Following a report that typhoid organisms had been found
in tinned cream manufactured in Ireland, a search was made
throughout the Borough by the Food and Drugs Inspectors and
72 tins of the particular brand concerned were found. These
included a case from the original batch which had given rise
to complaints at Birmingham. All these tins were submitted to
the Public Health Laboratories, County Hall, for examination,
in connection with an inquiry carried out by the Ministry of
Health, who reported as follows:—
" Of 955 cans of the same make examined in various
laboratories, 17 per cent, contained living bacteria of
numerous sporing and non-sporing species. The contamination
rate of the implicated batch examined at Birmingham
was 66 per cent. Expert examination of the can suggested
that it had been ineffectually sealed at the canners' end, and
that contamination arose from leakage of the cooling water
applied after heat sterilisation. The water was from a
shallow well subject to pollution. No case of typhoid fever
was reported."
The microscopical examination of continental and raw pork
sausages for the presence of Trichinae was continued; 23 samples
were submitted to the bacteriologist for examination. These
were subjected to a pre-digestive test evolved by the bacteriologist
and myself. All samples were found to be wholesome. We
shall continue to chase the elusive little pale nematode, as the
recent epidemic in the north proves that Trichinosis is still a
potential danger to public health in this country.