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112
CONTAMINATED SHELLFISH.
MUSSELS.
On the 9th October, 1908, communications were received from the Medical
Officers of Health of both Islington and Wandsworth relating to cases of
enteric fever occurring in their districts, attributed in each instance to the
patients having eaten mussels procured from salesmen in Billingsgate Market.
The names were given of three dealers from whom the supplies in question
were obtained, but in no case were they able to identify with certainty the
source of origin of the mussels after a lapse of four weeks. Each of these
firms dealt in Dutch mussels, and could produce certificates of the Netherland
Government that their consignments came from unpolluted sources.
One salesman suggested the possibility of South Dutch mussels being the
produce of more than one firm, but sent in one consignment, and undertook
in future to apply for certificates from each Dutch firm to whom they made
payments.
On the 23rd October I was informed of another case of enteric fever at
Islington, in which mussels purchased from one of the salesman referred to
in the previous case was supposed to be implicated, but upon enquiry it
was found that this dealer had not supplied mussels to the local trader in
Islington.
On the 23rd November intimation was received that a woman, aged 36,
residing in Wandsworth, who had eaten mussels procured from Billingsgate
Market on the 5th November, was suffering from enteric fever, the first
symptoms of the disease having appeared on the 14th November.
It was found upon enquiry that the mussels in question were imported
from Holland. A sample of these, marked (1), was taken at Billingsgate
Market on the 23rd November, and submitted to Dr. Klein for analysis, who
reported thereon as under:—
“30th November, 1908.
“I received, on 23rd November, a sample of mussels (South Dutch) which are
“supposed to be similar to some that were connected with a case of enteric fever.
“These mussels were dealt with in the following manner:—
“After opening and draining the liquor, the bodies only of 12 mussels were cut
“up finely in a sterile dish; the fluid resulting from this mince was turbid, and was
“used for making the following cultures. I ought to state that the total amount of
“this fluid was 18 c.c., and that each culture was charged with 1/10 c.c., that is,
“1/15th part of the body of a mussel:—
“(a). Surface of two large plates with Drigalski-Conradi medium.
“(b) Two tubes containing Malachite green bile broth—mal. green, 1 :1,500.
“(c) Two tubes containing Malachite green bile broth—mal. green, 1 : 1,600.