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guests. The mother insisted that no one other than herself handled
the fish from the time it arrived in the house, and she took what
appeared to be a justifiable pride in the fact that she " with her
own hands " had served all the fish to such a large gathering.
Up to that stage in the investigation the finger of suspicion
was naturally pointed towards the two persons chiefly concerned
with the cooking and handling of the fish—the cook and the
mother ; but subsequent investigation showed—at least as far as
such an investigation can show—that they were not the carriers
of the infection. The mother, who served and handled all the fried
fish, was found to be bacteriologically negative, and could not be
regarded as a carrier of infection. The restaurateur, who prepared
and fried the fish, had a history of ' gastric trouble ' for over two
years, but cultures from his stools showed no evidence of pathogenic
organisms.
Under the circumstances it was necessary to investigate other
possible, although less probable, sources. The premises where the
fish was cooked were thoroughly investigated by the Medical
Officer of Health of the area, but nothing was found which could
account for the infection of the fish there. The eggs and batter, in
which the fish was fried, were examined.
In the house where the party was held there was a pet dog,
and some evidence of infestation by mice ; but a rectal swab from
the dog, and a dead mouse submitted to bacteriological examination,
were found to be free from pathogenic organisms.
The bacteriological examinations, therefore, failed to reveal
any definite source from which the fish was infected by salmonella
organisms.
Statistical Summary.
The following figures give in statistical form the relevant facts
connected with the outbreak:—

Of the 46 persons who ate the fried fish, bacteriological examination
of the rectal swabs disclosed the presence of Salmonella (Typhimurium)
infection in 16 cases.