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"When the same procedure of making Drigalski plates of clean oysters is used,
"there appear on such a Drigalski plate kept at 37° C. either lio colonies at all, or
"very few only, thus showing that a clean oyster and its shell-water are practically
"free of microbes capable of growing at 37° C., whereas in the above two cases
"there were contained in the shell-water crowds of such microbes, and this in
"agreement with the results of the other analysis above stated, viz., that both
"samples contain abundance of sewage or filth microbes, viz., B. coli communis and
"spores of B. enteritidis sporogenes.
"For these reasons, 1 consider both samples unclean and polluted with sewage
"or filth.
(Signed) "E. KLEIN."
Another fatal case of Enteric, which the deceased's friends attributed to
oysters eaten in the City, was reported from Exeter, but on examination by
Dr. Klein of a sample purchased at the shop where they were bought showed
these to be quite clean.
Both the Fishmongers' Company and the Vendor of the contaminated
oysters were acquainted with the results, and the latter at once gave an undertaking
to discontinue the sale of all oysters except those derived from sources
known to be free from pollution.
In the course of this enquiry it was ascertained by the officers of the
Fishmongers' Company that the oysters in question had come from some
layings that were above suspicion, but had subsequently been stored in some
sewage-polluted pits. The Company immediately took action, which resulted
in the absolute closure of these pits by the owners.
A case of considerable importance to the public was heard at the Lexden
and Winstree Sessions on the 21st August last, when an oyster merchant of
Wyvenhoe was summoned at the instance of the Wyvenhoe Urban District
Council for selling oysters that were unfit for human food.
The summons was taken out under Section 107 of the Public Health Act,
1875, and Section 28 of the Public Health Act, 1890.
The oysters in question, which were Portuguese relaid, had been sold to an
officer of the Fishmongers' Company, who submitted them to Dr. Klein for
analysis, who reported on them as follows :—
" Analysis of Oysters.
"Of six Portuguese oysters—small six have abundance of B. coli communis.
"Two specially examined—both have enteritidis spores.
"Of six Portuguese oysters, large—all have abundance of B. coli communis.
"Two specially examined—both have enteritidis spores.
"Result—oysters distinctly sewage polluted, therefore unfit for food in their raw
"E. KLEIN."