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88
This was the verdict of the jury after careful inquiry into the cause of death of the two fatal
oases.
With reference to the presence of bacteria in dried peas, it does not appear to be generally
known that such organisms as B. Coli, Streptococci, B. Welchii. Fæcalis alkaligenes, etc., are usually
present in peas, oats, wheat and other cereals.
That does not necessarily indicate fæcal pollution, but is due to contamination by dust, handling,
contact with sacks, containers, etc.
The same organisms are also usually present on fruit and vegetables, and is due to contamination
by dust, etc. Some tomatoes exposed for sale on a stall were recently examined and an
abundant growth of B. Coli was obtained.
Although practically all the bacteria mentioned would be destroyed in the ordinary process
of cooking, the above facts emphasize the necessity for extreme cleanliness in culinary operations
and the desirability of washing cereals before cooking.
With reference to the destruction of bacteria in the ordinary process of cooking, some experiments
were made in the Ministry of Health Laboratory. When a mass consisting of four pounds
of dried peas, in a saucepan of water, was brought to the boil, and then allowed to simmer (the
method adopted in making the pease pudding), it was found that the temperature of the water was 96
degrees Centigrade, and the temperature in the interior of the mass of peas was 94 degrees Centigrade.
In a control experiment dysentery bacilli (Sonne) were killed at a temperature of 58 degrees
Centigrade in twenty minutes. This again indicates that if the preparation of the pudding was
carried out as stated, infection could only have occurred subsequently.
I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
G. Sowden,
Medical Officer of Health.
A copy of the report was forwarded to the Minister of Health in accordance with the
requirements of Section 14 (5) of the Sanitary Officers (London) Order.
There were 28 notifications of Food Poisoning including those due to the pease pudding
epidemic which is fully recorded in the above Special Report. Eight of the other cases were
definitely shown to be cases of "Indigestion" rather than "Food Poisoning," several of the
remaining cases were indefinite and a great variety of foods were stated to have been
responsible for the illnesses. In one instance only, apart from the above-mentioned Epidemic,
was food considered to be definitely responsible for the illness.
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
These diseases were made compulsorily notifiable throughout the country in 1916 under
the Public Health (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1915, but were revoked by the
Ministry of Health in 1919. The St. Pancras Borough Council were satisfied as to the value
of notification, and intimated to the Ministry the desire to continue the practice. This was
granted, and notification became compulsory under the Metropolitan Boroughs of Lambeth
and St. Pancras (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1920.
Under these Regulations all cases are notifiable by parents and guardians, but only the
first case occurring in an outbreak in a household or institution is notifiable by medical
practitioners, an interval of two months since the last case constituting a new outbreak. The
following details, tables and chart have been prepared by Dr. P. V. Pritchard, Assistant
Medical Officer, and demonstrate several important and interesting facts about Measles,
Table I. gives the gross figures as regards incidence and deaths. These may be misleading,
and they have therefore been worked out in Table II. as Incidence and Mortality Rates. On
Table III. these calculations are expressed by two graphs.