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57
I informed him that I considered the contents sound and asked him, if on opening, that
proved to be correct, to undertake a bacteriological investigation, with a view to ascertaining
the reason for the conditions observed. Sir Frederick Andrewes reported as follows:—
"Re TINS OF LOGANBERRIES.
"Although the ends of these two tins were slightly convex, I could not detect, on opening
them, any signs of gas under pressure. There was no obvious escape of pent-up gas on puncturing
them.
"The contents were perfectly sweet and good to smell and taste and showed no evidence
of having undergone fermentation. There was abundant sugar in the juice. So good
were they, that when I had finished with them, I gave them to a laboratory attendant to take
home to eat, and I should have gladly eaten them myself.
"I find the contents nearly, but not quite, sterile on culture. I made 6 anaerobic
and 5 aerobic cultures, using one or two large loopfuls of juice.
"The 6 anaerobic cultures were made on plain agar and on agar containing carbohydrates,
in plain broth and in glucose broth. Not one yielded any growth at all. I made
these various anaerobic cultures chiefly with the view of detecting B. botulinus, if present.
"Of the 5 aerobic cultures, the plain agar showed growth in the case of both tins. In
one there were 6 colonies, in the other 3. These colonies were of several different kinds,
chiefly bacilli, and I think they came from the contents of the tins as they were unlike ordinary
air contaminations. I have not pursued their nature further. One broth culture also showed
a motile bacillus. The other two were sterile.
"I do not think the 'blown' character of the tins can be due to bacterial action.
"(Signed) F. W. ANDREWES."
Although the above report supported my expectations, it did not solve the problem,
and the City Analyst, Mr. E. A. Pinchin, B.Sc., F.I.C., was next asked to report on a series
of tins. The following is Mr. Pinchin's report:—
"LOGANBERRIES.
"One of these tins was opened and a distinct gas pressure observed ; on standing for
a short time minute gas bubbles rose to the surface. A determination of alcohol showed
the sample to contain 0.20 per cent. of absolute alcohol by weight, corresponding to 0-46
per cent. of proof spirit.
"It would thus appear that the blowing is due to a slight alcoholic fermentation.
"(Signed) ERNEST A. PINCHIN."
The above circumstances were communicated to the Ministry of Health in the hope
that in some way the manufacturers concerned might be induced to undertake research
work with the object of reducing the probability of the alcoholic fermentation referred toby
Mr. Pinchin. Unless some such action is taken, it is certain that manufacturers will
suffer from more or less extensive condemnations of a product which does not justify condemnation.
GENERAL SANITARY WORK.
Artizans' Dwellings, Stoney Lane, Houndsditch.—These Buildings, erected by the late
Commissioners of Sewers and opened in January, 1885, stand upon ground formerly the
site of several courts and alleys in the Ward of Portsoken.
There are five " blocks " of Dwellings, severally named King's, Queen's, Prince's, North,
and South, designed for occupation by persons of the artizan class, some of the ground
floors being let as shops. The Buildings contain 501 rooms, arranged in 241 tenements, and
are occupied by 743 persons, compared with 777 in 1925. 73 per cent. are adults and 27 per
cent. children (under 14 years).
The number of births was 2, viz.: 0 males and 2 females. The birth-rate was 2.7 per
1,000, which is 94 per 1,000 below the average for the previous five years.
The death-rate for 1926 was 13 4 per 1,000 per annum.