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65
On Wednesday, 12tli August, a quantity of rice was cooked with
butter and chicken broth for the use of the hotel customers, and some
of this was sent up to the restaurant and consumed at lunch without
any bad results. Between 3 and 4 p.m. what was left was taken from
the kitchen and placed in cold storage. Next morning about 11 o'clock
this rice was taken to the staff kitchen and a number of the staff
partook of it without bad results. It appeared to be all right and no
unusual taste was observed. A second batch numbering between 20.25
dined at 12.30, of these 11 took rice, each person going to the large
basin and helping himself. Two persons remarked that the rice
appeared yellow or brown in parts, and it tasted "a little strong."
These eleven were taken ill about 3 p.m. Bacteriological examination
of the mucus of the bowel of the deceased waiter revealed the presence
of the bacillus coli "but not in number much above normal." The
probability is that the rice was contaminated in some way while it was
standing in the kitchen after it was removed from the store, and before
being placed in cold storage. It was stated that any rice sent upstairs
which was not used would probably be put back into the same basin.
The chicken broth would form a good medium for the growth of an
organism, and as it would sink to the bottom of the basin, the upper
layers from which the first set of waiters helped themselves would be
free from contamination. Some growth would begin before the removal
to cold storage, and would re.commence when the rice was
brought out next morning into the warm kitchen. The sanitary
conditions of the premises were good, and the kitchens have always been
found clean and well conducted.
(b). Seven persons were taken ill after eating smoked sardines in
oil. They were purchased at 7 p.m. and eaten at 8 p.m. by six persons,
and an hour later by a seventh. At 10.30 the first set began to be ill,
and the last one at 11.30. All recovered. Another member of the
family for whom some had been left did not eat any and escaped.
Examination of the stock in the shop at which the box was purchased
did not lead to the discovery of any defective tins, and some that were
opened appeared good.
(c). During August, a number of men belonging to the Queen's
Westminster Territorial liegiment were taken ill after their midday
meal. About 150 men complained of dryness in the throat and mouth,
pain in the stomach and sickness. Suspicion fell on stewed plums
which had been eaten, and a sample of some remaining was analysed,
with the result that they were found to contain a considerable quantity
of zinc (calculated as zinc oxide, 22.4 grains per 1b. of fruit). All the
men recovered after treatment.
The plums had been cooked on the previous day by a contractor, and