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134
The action, however, of the Fishmongers' Company, when their attention
had been directed to the condition of these mussels that were being sold with
their authority, is significant. In reply to my communication they wrote,
"pending further investigation, they have prohibited in the London
"Markets the sale of mussels from Lympstone in the neighbourhood of the
"River Exe. The result of the analysis of North Dutch mussels also place
"the Company in such a position that they will have to prohibit the sale of
"such mussels coming, as it is stated, from the neighbourhood of the Zuyder
"Zee."
With regard to the samples from North and South Holland, I have laid the
facts before the Netherlands representative in this country, who has been in
communication with the Authorities abroad over the matter.
OYSTERS.
A fatal case of Enteric Fever occurring at Chester was reported. Upon
enquiry, the following facts were revealed.
The patient, who was in London at the beginning of February last, lunched
at a City Hotel, upon the 3rd, and there partook of oysters. Seven days
later the patient was taken ill with a virulent type of Enteric Fever, and
succumbed on the 28th February.
There appeared no reason to suspect infection from the deceased's private
residence, the drains of which had been tested and found to be in good order,
and further, he had been in contact with nobody suffering from Enteric Fever.
A sample of the oysters dealt in by the Hotel in question were obtained, and
submitted to Dr. Klein for bacteriological examination, who reported thereon
as follows:—
"These were tested for general and for specific pollution.
"No B. coli communis were discovered per 1/25 part of oyster.
"Streptococci were present per 1/50 part of oyster.
"No enteritidis spores were found per ¼ part of oyster.
"In none of the Drigalski plates were any colonies which in the least resembled
"either the B. typhosus or paratyphosus. Result:— Oysters passable."
Although from this report it would appear that the oysters were not
responsible for the death of the patient, such is by no means certain, as we are
faced with the usual difficulty in dealing with these cases, and that is the
impossibility of getting at the actual oysters presumed to have caused the
trouble. A considerable time must always elapse from the date of consumption
to the date when the circumstances come to the knowledge of this Department.
In this instance there was an interval of five weeks, and it will be readily