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
Leyton 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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During the year 28 notifications of food poisoning were received. Of these, 27 were residents of the Borough and one an extra-district case notified from Whipps Cross Hospital. All the cases were investigated, the following being a summary of the findings.
| Food consumed. | No. of Cases. | Agent Causing Outbreak. |
|---|---|---|
| Cockles | 20 | Not known. |
| Raw fruit | 2 | Not known. |
| Ducks eggs | 2 | Salmonella Typhi Murium. |
| Whelks | 1 | Not known. |
| Winkles | 1 | Not known. |
| Unknown | 2 | 1 Salmonella Newport. |
| l Salmonella Typhi Murium. |
In addition to the cases mentioned above, it was ascertained
that a large number of persons, who had eaten cockles at a popular
seaside resort, suffered from mild gastro-enteritis. The attacks
were so mild and so short-lived that many of the affected persons
did not consult a doctor, the result being that the cases were never
notified officially.
Of the 20 cases due to cockles, the incubation period was
18 to 24 hours. The main symptoms were vomiting, abdominal
pain and diarrhoea ; and the symptoms cleared in a few days.
Owing to the short duration of illness no laboratory investigations
were possible, and the causative agent was not discovered.
In every case where the source of infection was discovered,
full particulars were forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health
of the district concerned.