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It was, however, obviously necessary to establish this fact beyond doubt,
and samples were obtained by the officers of the Fishmongers' Company
from the gathering grounds.
Sample No. 8 was taken from the lower part of the Blythe, opposite the
Chapman Lighthouse, sent to Professor Klein on the 1st January, 1903,
who reported thereon on the 3rd January as follows:—
Cockles No. 8 received in the shell on January 1st, 1903.
Eighteen cockles examined, plentiful bacillus coli communis and spores
of bacillus enteritidis sporogenes. Therefore extensive sewage pollution.
E. KLEIN.
The Clerk of the Fishmongers' Company was at once informed that the
sale of these cockles should be stopped absolutely, even if cooked at once
without relaying.
Sample No. 9, collected on the Maplin Sands abreast of the Mouse Lightship,
submitted to Professor Klein on the 3rd January, 1903, who reported
on the 8th January as under:—
January 8th, 1902.
Re COCKLES No. 9.
These were received on January 3rd from Maplin Sands. The cockles
were all of a very fine size. After thoroughly washing them and brushing
them under the tap, twelve of them were opened with sterile instruments
and the interior used for the special cultivations in order to discover the
presence of microbes of the coli-typhoid group and the spores of bacillus
enteritidis sporogenes.
The result was this:—
Eight cockles contained the bacillus coli communis, three contained
coli-like microbes, but these were neither the bacillus coli
communis nor the bacillus typhosus.
Four cockles contained abundance of spores of the bacillus enteritidis
sporogenes; the other eight were free of them.
E. KLEIN.
This report at once changed the whole position of affairs. The
arrangement made to bring cockles from the Maplins and Blythe and cook
them at Leigh without relaying in the Creek could not longer be allowed.
I therefore at once wrote to the Clerk of the Fishmongers' Company as
follows:—
"From the report of Professor Klein, 8th January, 1903, it is clear
"that the cockles collected from the Maplins are sewage polluted.
"As the whole of the Leigh supply is derived from the Maplins and
"Blythe, and as both these sources are now shown to be contaminated, it
"is clear that there is nothing left but to prohibit the sale of cockles
"from Leigh.
"This is an unfortunate thing, as it will mean stopping the trade, but I
do not see that any other action can be taken in view of the facts."