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53
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
been, but it was difficult to obtain definite information in many
of the cases as to date and place of purchase.
(1). A. C., notified on the 7th January, had some oysters on 7th
or the 8th December, 1902, and the first symptoms were
observed on the 26th December. No information could be
obtained as to where the oysters were purchased. This
case proved fatal on the 16th January.
(2). G. R., notified on the 9th January, first symptoms on the 30th
December. Partook of oysters on the 9th December at
home, and on the 11 th December at the Trocadero
Restaurant. The oysters were obtained from a local dealer
who purchased them in Lower Thames Street. I communicated
these facts to the Medical Officer of Health to the
City, who informed me that the oysters purchased on the
gth December by the patient came from Whitstable and
that seven samples of Whitstable oysters, one from this
very bed, had been examined by Dr. Klein and none
showed evidence of sewage pollution. It is, however, quite
possible that the oysters actually taken by the patient were
polluted, as later in the year oysters from the same dealer
(Cases Nos. 11 and 12) were again examined and found to
be polluted.
(3). M. C., notified on the 14th January, first symptoms on the
27th December. Patient had raw oysters about three
weeks before the onset of first symptoms.
(4) J. R., notified on the 14th January, first symptoms on the
29th December. Patient had oysters a week before Christmas,
but no further information could be obtained.
(5). T. C., notified on the 18th March, first symptoms about the
10th March. Patient had some oysters on the 21st
February. This case proved fatal on the 19th March.
(6). A. P., notified on the 19th May, first symptoms about the 1st
May. Patient was a regular eater of oysters. The oysters
had been purchased by a local dealer at Billingsgate
Market. The particulars were forwarded to the Medical
Officer of Health to the City of London.
(7). A. S., notified on the 16th June, first symptoms about the
24th May. Patient had oysters at a restaurant in Regent
Street on the 9th May.