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97
A consignment of some 50,000 cases of imported apples affected with
"brown heart," which had been unloaded at the London Docks, were
released to premises in Westminster on condition that they were sorted
prior to sale to the general public.
About 50 per cent. of the consignment was condemned as unfit for
human consumption. Some 14,000 cases of apples were destroyed and
the remainder were either re-exported or disposed of for purposes other
than human food.
Food Poisoning.—No case was notified by medical practitioners in the
City, but five cases brought to notice by Medical Officers of other
districts or directly by the persons affected were investigated. All were
in respect of meals taken at restaurants in Westminster. No definite
information could be obtained as to the actual cause of the illness of
the persons concerned, and there was no evidence that other persons had
been affected. In one instance, conditions in the restaurant premises
were not altogether satisfactory and notice was served upon the occupier.
Oysters—Typhoid Fever.—During the latter months of 1938 a
number of letters from various medical officers of health were received
with reference to the possibility of typhoid fever in their districts being
caused by oysters bought in Westminster. Oysters from all the main
sources of supply were obtained and bacteriologically examined, while
full enquiries were made. No evidence sufficient to indicate that
oysters were the source of infection was obtained.
Pharmacy & Poisons Act, 1933.
This Act placed upon Local Authorities the duty of enforcing Part II
of the Act and the Rules made thereunder so far as they relate to poisons
in Part II of the Poisons List.
The poisons with which the Local Authority is concerned are
principally those in common use for purposes other than the treatment
of human ailments, e.g., ammonia, hydrochloric acid (spirits of salts),
phenols (carbolic acid), hair dyes, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda),
nicotine, certain arsenical and mercuric compounds, etc.
The names of 218 firms and individuals were on the Council's list at
the end of the year, the trades concerned being mainly grocers and
provision dealers, oil and colour merchants, ironmongers, hairdressers,
and horticultural simdriesmen. Thirteen names were removed from the
register and 10 were added during the year.
Two samples were examined during the year, one a hair dye and the
other a sanitary fluid; both were found to be satisfactory.