London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hampstead 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]

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161
The Tongue had been obtained from a local branch of a firm of
well-known provision dealers owning multiple shops. Samples of
sliced Tongue of two varieties were taken from this shop by the
Sanitary Inspector on the following day, and submitted to Eastes
Laboratories, 6, Harley Street, for bacteriological examination.
On the 8th March, 1938, the Laboratories reported that both
samples contained B. Dysentery (Sonne) in large numbers.
Apparently the practice of the firm in question is to receive in
6-lb. tins two types of prepared tongue, viz.:—(1) Swift Plate Ox
Tongue (Tinned in the Argentine), and (2) Morris & Co. Cooked
Lunch Tongue (Tinned in Chicago). These tongues are taken out of
their tins as required, and subsequently retailed in slices as required
by the Customers.

The bacteriological results of all the material referred to Eastes Laboratories, Harley Street, are as under:—

Date.Material.Bacteriological Report.
8th MarchCut Tongue "A"B. Sonne present.
8th MarchCut Tongue "B"„ „
9th MarchTinned Tongue "A"Negative.
9th MarchTinned Tongue "B"
9th MarchCut Tongue "A"B. Sonne present.
9th MarchCut Tongue "B"B. Sonne absent, B. Coli present.
15 MarchFæces Assistant A.B. Sonne absent.
„ „ B.„ „
c „ „„ „
15th MarchCounter knivesB. Sonne absent, B. Coli present.
15th MarchMutton Cloths (material on which knives are wiped).B. Sonne absent, B. Coli, B. Fæcalis, and Fried-lander's Bacillus present.
15th MarchCounter clothsB. Sonnt absent, B. Coli present.

Observations:—
L—The bacteriological results, as was anticipated, exonerated the
Tinned Tongue.
2.—The absence of Sonne B. from the faeces of the shop assistants
would perhaps exclude them as the source of infection.