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108
Professor Vaughan mentions two outbreaks in Michigan in 1895, when
fifty persons were affected by cream, and about twelve by cheese. The
toxicogenic germ found was similar in both outbreaks. It grows readily on
the ordinary culture media, and also many fruits and vegetables. This latter
point is of great interest, as it is well known that milk often produces
unpleasant symptoms if it has been kept near unsound and decomposing fruits
and vegetables. Although the symptoms are very marked, the result is
practically never a fatal one in adults, though a patient may be left in a weak
state for some considerable time.
Practically the difficulty is that in the manufacture, as the cause is not
known, it is impossible to take any steps to prevent the formation of this
ptomain; and further, as it imparts no taste nor smell to the cheese, its
presence cannot be detected except by analysis. It follows as a matter of
course, that neither the makers, shippers or dealers are in any degree to blame
for these unfortunate outbreaks, and in view of this no names have been
mentioned.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
W. Mryredfe
Medical Officer of Health for the
City of London.
Public Health Department,
Guildhall, E.C.,
March, 1902.