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132
Other than this question of the administrative Authorities, however, there
was only one weak point in the suggested Bill, and that was the fact that
oysters only were to be brought within its provisions. It seems an anomaly
that the protection afforded to consumers of oysters should be withheld
from consumers of other shellfish which are equally liable to pollution.
MUSSELS.
Mussels and Oysters were the only shellfish to which cases of Enteric Fever
may have been attributable during 1910, and these have been implicated on
several occasions. The following are the facts relating thereto:—
A case of Enteric Fever occurring in Islington, enquiry was made, and it
was found that suspicion attached to Mussels eaten by the patient, and
procured from a dealer in Billingsgate Market. These mussels had been
imported from Holland and had been accompanied by a certificate issued by
the Netherlands Authorities to the effect that the layings and ponds from which
the mussels in question had been taken "are free from noxious microbes, and
"in consequence of their position, not exposed to any reasonable risk of
"pollution by sewage or other objectionable filth."
A sample of these mussels was taken and submitted to Dr. Klein, who
reported thereon as follows:—
"Re samples of mussels No. 1 brought here on March 8th. The bacteriological
"analysis shows that these mussels are polluted. They contain each over 50 B.
"coli communis. They contain each over 50 streptococci. They contain each
"spores of Enteritides.
"I have also made two large Drigalski plates. On each of these appeared several
"colonies which might be either B. paratyphosus or B. typhosus. I have made
"subcultures of these, and when the necessary tests have been made I will report
"thereon."
Dr. Klein later reported the result of the continuation of his bacteriological
experiments as under —
"I have tested by subcultures the (bluish) colonies which had appeared on the
"Drigalski plates, and found that none answered the tests either for B. paratyphosus
"or B. typhosus. None gave an agglutination reaction with the respective blood
"serum of protected rabbits."
Although it may be agreed that the result of the analysis disproves any
allegation that the mussels were directly responsible for the incidence of
Enteric Fever, it is clear that they were contaminated and unfit for human
consumption, and the attention of the Netherlands Authorities was called to this