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148
were of a different group from those isolated from the throat of the
baby. All the children showed marked inflammation of the throat at
the commencement of illness. In spite of conflicting bacteriological
findings, it is believed that the epidemic was streptococcal in origin.
The affected nurses were suspended from duty and given appropriate
treatment; the patients themselves were sent to hospital, and
disinfection was carried out, whilst the children remaining in the ward
were isolated. In addition, strict attention to cleanliness in the preparation
of feeds and general care of the unaffected children was
enjoined. As a result of these measures no further cases occurred.
Examples of similar minor outbreaks amongst babies in Institutions
are not uncommon, and investigation usually establishes the fact
that infection is carried from child to child by a nurse, but the exact
nature of the infectious condition in these outbreaks remains obscure.
Food Poisoning.
There were five cases of illness attributed to food. The illness
was attributed to the consumption of frying steak, fried fish, pork pie
(two cases) and kippers. All the cases were investigated.
Six cases of food poisoning occurred in a neighbouring Rorough
following the consumption of a pie made at a private residence in
Hampstead. The affected persons were factory employees, and the
proprietor and his wife, at whose house the pie was made, were also
taken ill.
Examination of the faeces of all the affected persons was carried
out at the Ministry of Health Laboratories, and a portion of the pie
was also examined. It was reported that none of the usual pathogenic
bacteria were identified, but that all the specimens except one contained
a non-lactose-fermenting bacillus resembling Morgan's bacillus. It
was not possible to state whether this was the cause.
The illness was not of a severe nature, and all the patients made
an uninterrupted recovery.
Although cases of food poisoning occur with great regularity and
certain food-stuffs are implicated, investigation is usually difficult, and
bacteriological confirmation is not easy to obtain. Illness said to be