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54
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
(8). W. T., notified on the 14th September. The patient was
manager to a fishmonger in Fulham and frequently
had oysters. The Medical Officer of Health for
Fulham informed me that the oysters had been obtained
from a large dealer at Billingsgate. The Medical Officer
for the City of London was informed and in his report on
the matter he states that the oysters sold by this firm were
from layings that had been examined in January and March
and had been found free from infection and it was not at
that time considered necessary to make any further investigation.
He further reported that on the 2nd December
a case of Enteric Fever occurred at Hastings and was
attributed to oysters purchased from the above dealer.
Five samples were purchased from him on the 3rd December
and in each sample purchased, some of the oysters contained
the bacillus coli communis. The oysters purchased
by the official of the City were large American Blue Points,
not re-laid; South American not re-laid; small Dutch, not
re-laid ; Burnham and Whitstable Prncesses.
(9). H. M., notified on the 28th September, first symptoms on
the 21 st. This patient had oysters at Southend-on-Sea on
the 4th September.
(10). G.O., notified on the 5th October, first symptoms on the
26th September. This patient was employed as a fishmonger
and occasionally had oysters, but no definite
history could be obtained as the patient was only a lodger
and the other occupiers could give no further information
(11). C. L., notified on the Qth December, first symptoms on the
20th November. Patient had oysters about a fortnight
previous, purchased from a local dealer.
(12). C. W., notified on the 11th December, first symptoms on the
22nd November. Patient was a regular eater of oysters
and purchased them from a local dealer.
These two last cases were the subject of special inquiry and it
was ascertained that both the local dealers, one in Balham and the
other in Putney, obtained their supplies from the same wholesale
dealer at Billingsgate.
The particulars of the first of the two cases were sent to the
Medical Officer of Health to the City who purchased a sample of