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99
Upon the invitation of the Sanitary Committee a deputation of six
members of the Chamber attended before the Committee to consider the
correspondence that had passed in relation to this matter. Further correspondence
ensued, and it was finally agreed that Dr. W. Bulloch, of the London
Hospital, Professor R. T. Hewlett, of King's College, and Dr. Klein, of
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, should make an investigation into a certain
number of samples of tinned meat, the samples being taken by myself and
supplied to the three bacteriologists.
Samples were taken in triplicate, and examined independently by each
analyst.
Fifty samples were taken, which included all those found to be unsatisfactory
in the previous examination, with the addition of certain others.
In due course, the gentlemen engaged in this investigation presented their
reports, copies of which were forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce,
together with a copy of my interpretation of the results which were laid
before the Chamber on the 7th March, 1907. Consideration of space prohibits
their inclusion here, but it will be sufficient to say that the results in many
cases were unsatisfactory, as all three investigators, two of whom had been
selected by the Chamber of Commerce, who presumably represented the
interests of the Home traders, reported that a considerable proportion of the
samples were not sterile.
The importance of this matter was directly pointed out to the representatives
of the Chamber of Commerce at a Conference with the Sanitary
Committee for the purpose of considering the reports, held at the Gnildhall on
the 22nd March.
On the 11th April, 1907, a copy of the following resolution was received
from the Special Committee of the Canned Goods Trade Section of the
Chamber of Commerce:—
"That whilst believing that the sterilisation of Tinned Foods is desirable
"whenever practicable, this Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce
"is of opinion that the reports of the Bacteriological Experts employed to
"examine samples of such foods are of so satisfactory a nature that there appears
"no necessity for unduly alarming the public by publishing them, as on
"account of their technical character there is always the risk of their being
" misunderstood."
It was impossible to accept this view of the matter, and in order that a
clear understanding may be had of the situation, I submit the opinion
expressed by the Experts referred to in the above resolution:—
Dr. Klein.—"Although the microbes found in some of the samples were
"few and of a harmless nature, it cannot be doubted that in course of time
" physical and chemical changes might, and probably would, be caused by them,