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It is not suggested that these food-stuffs in themselves could
cause Typhoid Fever, but it is conceivable that they could be
contaminated before purchase by being handled by a person
suffering from a mild unrecognised attack of Typhoid Fever,
or by a " carrier."
When it became apparent that circumstantial evidence was
gradually strengthening against shop "X," Dr. Sturdee arranged
an interview with a representative of " X" at the Ministry of
Health on the 17th October. At this interview we informed
the representative of our suspicions, and he gave us every facility
for carrying out a systematic examination of all the employees.
These examinations included blood tests, and the examination of
urine and excreta, the object being the detection of a mild unrecognised
case, or a possible carrier.
At a certain stage in the bacteriological examinations, six
employees were suspended because of suspicious reports; but
further tests proved negative. I arranged for admission to St.
John's Hospital for three of the suspects, to facilitate the
collection of excreta for examination which, under ordinary conditions,
presents some difficulties. A list of the home addresses
of the employees was obtained, and inquiries were made at their
homes, but no history of a recent suspicious illness could be
elicited. Four employees who had left shop " X " during
September, and one temporarily employed then, were followed
up; but the usual tests proved negative. One employee, N.M...
was found to have been off duty (through illness) from the 8th
October. I visited him and obtained specimens for the necessary
tests, but though he looked pale and debilitated, the results of
the tests were negative. The subsequent history of this employee
is of interest. He never 'returned to work and on the
4th November died from severe haemorrhage from the bowel.
It is worthy of note that three days previous to his death he
felt well enough to go out of doors for a walk. A post-mortem
examination showed that death was due to Typhoid Fever. The