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101
From a public health point of view, these recommendations must appear as
at once satisfactory and moderate.
For milk, all preservatives and colouring matters are recommended to be
prohibited, and their addition to be an offence under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Acts.
In cream and butter the amount of preservative is to be limited, and the
use of copper salt as "greening" to be prohibited.
If legislation follows on the lines of these recommendations, it cannot fail
to be beneficial to the general health of the country.
CHEESE POISONING.
(Tyrotoxismus.)
I have to report an extremely interesting series of outbreaks of poisoning
from Cheese which have taken place in various parts of London during the
year, and which have been all traced to one common source.
Though, so far as is at present known, no cases have occurred within the City
limits, it is an undoubted fact that within your jurisdiction the Cheese causing
the trouble was in the first place sold by the importer to two large firms, and
again resold by them to various retail shopkeepers.
Inasmuch as the actual outbreaks were entirely outside the City, the details
are of necessity furnished by the Medical Officers of Health of the Boroughs
concerned, to whom I am greatly indebted for much trouble in supplying these.
(I.) BETHNAL GREEN
Dr. Newman states that on 21st October he was informed by the Medical
Officer of Health of the Borough of Bethnal Green that certain cases of illness had
occurred which were supposed to have been caused by Dutch Cheese.
This Cheese was sold by a retail shopkeeper, who had obtained it from a large
firm, A B and C in Finsbury. Nine persons were traced who had eaten this Cheese
and had been taken ill.
The Bethnal Green Authorities endeavoured to obtain samples of the Cheese, but
failed, the remainder of the consignment having been returned to A B and C in
Finsbury.
(II.) FINSBURY
Dr. Newman thereupon sent to Messrs. A B and C for samples of the Cheese,
which were at once supplied, and information given that it had been bought from a
City firm, D and E.