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and mincemeat. Only those who were served with the haricot ox-tail suffered from
diarrhoea and in each case illness commenced some four or five hours after the meal.
None of the cases were serious.
A sample of the ox-tail was submitted to Sir Frederick Andrewes, who reported
thereon as follows:—
"No ordinary food poisoning bacilli could be found in the material either by direct
culture or by brilliant green enrichment. The only organisms growing on direct culture are
streptococci (fermenting lactose and saccharose but not raffinose or mannite). It seems to
be doubtful whether these played any part. Two mice fed for three days exclusively on the
ox-tail have remained perfectly well."
From the above it will be seen that the bacteriological examination does not
provide any support to the theory that the illness referred to was due to poisoning
by haricot ox-tail, although the circumstances and the facts ascertained would
appear to suggest that such was the case.
The other instance occurred in June at a City Luncheon, where two persons
were reported to have been ill the morning following the luncheon. In this instance
it was impossible to make any investigations into the condition of the food as none
which had been left over was available for examination.
Instances of this kind must, of course, continue to occur from time to time. It
is only, however, on rare occasions that these small outbreaks permit of complete
investigation and therefore of definite decision.
INSPECTION OF FOOD IN CITY WHARVES.
The duty of supervision of food at the Wharves is undertaken by Mr. T. L. Davies,
and the following is a summary of the chief matters coming under observation:—
SUMMARY OF FOOD DISCHARGED AT CITY WHARVES.
Article
Where from
Description of
Packages.
Total Number of
Packages.
General Range of
Weight of Packages.
General Farm Produce—
Butter Holland Boxes and Casks 125,823 6 lbs.—1 cwt.
Bacon „ Bales 8,813 2 cwts.—3 cwts.
Cheese Holland and Italy Single Cheeses 172,487 4 lbs.—14 lbs.
„ Holland, Denmark and
Italy Packages 324,157 24 lbs.—1 cwt.
Eggs Holland and Egypt Cases 55,027 1 cwt.—1 cwt. 2 qrs.
Lard Holland „ 32,113 28 lbs.—56 lbs.
Compound „ 13,132 28 lbs.
Margarine „ „ 462,520 12 lbs.—56 lbs.
Cereals—
Barley „ Bags 7,891 100 lbs.—1 cwt. 2 qrs.
Beans „ „ 1,598 1 cwt.—1 cwt. 3 qrs.
Peas „ „ 9,127 1 cwt.—1 cwt. 2 qrs.
Farina „ „ 290 2 cwts.
Beverage Products—
Coffee Africa and Costa Rica „ 60,516 1 cwt. 2 qrs.
Cocoa & Chocolate Ceylon, Africa and
Holland Bags and Cases 19,871 28 lbs.—2 cwts.
Fruit (Soft)—
Apples Holland Packages 6,429 40 lbs.—2 cwts.
Peaches „ „ 119 6 lbs.
Bananas Canary Islands „ 1,015 56 lbs.—1 cwt.
Plums Holland „ 51,775 12 lbs.—40 lbs.
Pears „ „ 27,889 14 lbs.—40 lbs.
Currants „ „ 4,045 7 lbs.—40 lbs.
Gooseberries „ „ 27,949 14 lbs.—100 lbs.
Strawberries „ „ 4,520 7 lbs.—28 lbs.
Cherries „ „ 12,346 12 lbs.—40 lbs.
Cranberries „ „ 217 28 lbs.
Rhubarb „ Bundles 15,996 28 lbs.—1 cwt.
Fruit (Dried) —
Currants Australia, S. Africa
Greece Packages 895,042 40 lbs.—56 lbs,
Raisins Australia, S. Africa
Greece, Spain and
California „ 168,466 8 lbs.—56 lbs.
Sultanas Australia, S. Africa
Greece, Afghanistan,
Smyrna, and
California „ 345,580 28 lbs.—56 lbs.