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none of the pie from the meal remained for bacteriological examination,
but a portion of the same pie remaining at the retailer's shop was obtained
and this was submitted for examination, but no pathogenic organisms
were found.
(2) A further case of food poisoning occurred at an hotel where
periodical outbreaks took place last year. This outbreak, affecting
three persons, was similar in character to previous occurrences. The
food concerned was again a prepared sauce which had been made for
service with an evening meal and had become enterotoxic due to the
multiplication in it of staphylococci. It was ultimately established that
the source of the contamination was an abrasion on the hand of a relief
sauce chef. In consequence of the outbreak consultations were held
with the management of the hotel in company with a bacteriologist
and means were devised to obviate, if possible, any farther outbreaks
of this nature occurring. As an interim measure, however, it was decided
to discontinue the routine preparation of this particular type of sauce
and to have it made only when requested when it would be used
immediately after preparation. No further outbreaks have occurred.
(3) A further family in Pimlico were affected by vomiting and
diarrhoea which, they alleged, occurred after eating sausages given by
a friend. None of the sausages remained from the meal nor was it
possible to determine the source from whence they were obtained.
No conclusions could be reached in this instance.
(4) A prompt notification was received from a Westminster doctor
of suspected food poisoning affecting a total of 70 members of a staff
of a large departmental store in Victoria who were suffering from
diarrhoea, vomiting and muscular weakness. All the persons affected
had eaten lunch the previous day prepared in the staff kitchen. Of the
persons affected 10 were confined to bed, but the remainder were only
slightly affected. Samples of meat, milk and stock were submitted to
the bacteriologist for examination, but none revealed any causative
organisms. Faecal specimens were taken from patients but these also
proved to be negative. In spite of a thorough investigation into this
outbreak and a close examination of the food storage conditions, etc., it
was not possible to determine the cause of the outbreak.
(5) Information was received of a suspected outbreak of food poisoning
amongst 20 members of a Society who had held their annual dinner in
a restaurant some 14 days previously. The symptoms complained of
had been sickness, diarrhoea, headache and abdominal pain. The
informant stated that four members of the Society had had to seek
medical attention but no notification of food poisoning was received in
this Department relative to these cases. The restaurant concerned was
inspected and the kitchen staff interviewed. The restaurant was found
to be quite satisfactory and reasonably clean and there was no record of
recent sickness amongst the staff. Due to the lateness of the information