London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

City of London 1911

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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97
authorities to relax their vigilance in this matter because an isolated series of samples
proved clean and wholesome.
That shellfish are still subject to the suspicion has being evidenced during the past
year in much the same manner as heretofore.
In February last a case of enteric fever occurred in an outlying district in which
enquiry suggested oysters as a possible cause.
The patient had been in the habit of partaking of oysters for lunch two or three
times a week since the beginning of the year, at a retailer's shop in the City. A sample
of the oysters on sale at this establishment was submitted to Dr. Klein, who reported
thereon, as follows :
No B. coli per J oyster. On one of two Drigalski plates inoculated with fluid
amounting to i'5 oyster, there were three bluish colonies resembling somewhat those
of GaertnerParatyphoid Typhoid colonies. Subcultures made in the different
media show that the colonies do not belong to either.
Result: Oysters satisfactorily clean.
(Signed) E. KLEIN.
This case illustrates one of the greatest difficulties that we have to meet in
satisfactorily tracing any connection between shellfish and reported case of illness.
The date of the onset of the illness was 1st February, and it was not until the
8th March that the suggested connection with contaminated oysters was brought to my
notice, and although it would appear as a result of the examination that the oysters
were not responsible for the illness in this particular case, the unavoidable lapse of time
must not be omitted from consideration.
It will be readily seen that oysters eaten at the beginning of February may possibly
be contaminated, while the sample from the same layings taken a month or five weeks
later may, on examination, give negative results qua disease.
WINKLES AND ENTERIC FEVER.
Enquiries into a case of enteric fever occurring in April last, elicited the fact that
the patient had been in the habit of regularly eating winkles purchased from a local
vendor, who in turn obtained his supplies from a wholesale dealer in Billingsgate Market.
A sample of the suspected winkles was submitted to Dr. Klein for bacteriological
examinations who reported thereon, as follows :—
“ Fluid from 12 winkles was collected and analysed for specific pollution with
“ the following results :—
“ (a) The winkles contained B. coli communis to the amount of 3840
“ per winkle.

Table: A further investigation has been completed, and the following is Dr. Klein's report upon the twelve samples submitted to him:—

A further investigation has been completed, and the following is Dr. Klein's report upon the twelve samples submitted to him:—

Date.Sample No.Result.
13th February1No B. coli per 1/80 oyster. No B. coli per 1/40 oyster. No B. coli per 1/4 oyster. B. enteritidis sporogenes per ¼ oyster. Satisfactorily clean.
13th February2No B. coli per 1/80 oyster. No B. coli per 1/40 oyster. No B. coli per 1/4 oyster. B. enteritidis sporogenes per ½ oyster. Satisfactorily clean.
]5th February3B. coli per ¼ oyster. No B. coli per 1/40 oyster. No B. coli per 1/80 oyster. Enteritidis spores per ½ oyster, not per 1/8 oyster. Oysters passable.