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The fatal case above referred to died at the Central Middlesex County Hospital. The postmortem
examination was conducted by the Senior Assistant Medical Officer who sent samples for
pathological examination in accordance with Circular CL. II dated 1st April, 1924 of the Ministry
of Health.
Following, is Dr. Scott's report on the specimens sent him :—
Ministry of Health,
Pathological Laboratory,
Dudley House,
Endell Street,
W.C. 2.
12th June, 1933.
Dear Dr. Buchan,
Food Poisoning.
Many thanks for sending me the specimens from the above. The case is an interesting and
unusual one. I can find no evidence of the Salmonella infection usual in "food poisoning," either
in the post-mortem material or the 3 specimens of pressed beef. Nor have I found any other significant
bacteria in the spleen, liver, kidney, or small intestine.
But each of the three specimens of pressed beef yielded profuse cultures of staphylococcus aureus:
the staphylococci were practically in pure culture and in very great numbers without affecting to an
obvious extent either the appearance or the smell of the meat. As you know, staphylococcal infection
of food, especially cream and cakes, has been frequently reported in connection with food poisoning
in the U.S.A. (Jordan of Chicago), but cases in which it could reasonably be suspected have been rare
in this country. I think there can be little doubt that your outbreak is one, however, and the character
of the illness (short incubation, painful vomiting and diarrhœa with rapid recovery) agrees with the
American reports. Fatal cases appear to be extremely rare, on the other hand.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) W. M. SCOTT.
Certain cases of food poisoning were also reported in Hornsey, and the Hornsey Borough Council
stated that the pressed beef which had caused the food poisoning in that area had been made from
beef purchased from the Central Meat Market, London, on the 6th and 7th June., but not from the
same firm from which the Willesden meat was purchased.
In the second outbreak reported, only one family was affected. This family consisted of Mr.,
Mrs. and Miss X.
In the evening of 25th May, Miss X ate tinned cream and on the morning of 26th May, vomited
and had abdominal pain and diarrhoea. She thought that the cream was the cause. The illness
continued until 5th June, during which time, Miss X ate only arrowroot biscuit and drank arrowroot
made with fresh milk. She was in bed the first six days, but even after that she did not handle any
of the food subsequently eaten by Mr. and Mrs. X.
On the 4th June at 9.30 a.m. a shoulder of lamb, purchased from a local butcher, was delivered
at the house. A bit of the bone was cut off and given to the cat, the rest was immediately cooked.
The meat was only handled by Mrs. X. At 1.30 p.m. some of the meat was eaten by Mrs. and Mr. X
with potatoes and butter beans, which had been soaked overnight. Nothing else was eaten all day.
Cups of tea were drunk, the milk used being tinned milk. At 6.30 p.m. on 4th June, Mrs. X had
nausea, this continued until 6.30 p.m. on 5th June, when she had sickness and diarrhoea and pains in
the stomach. Meanwhile, she had nothing to eat and only tea to drink. Mr. X had similar symptoms
at the same time. He also had a headache. The meat was found to have maggots in it on 5th June,
and was thrown away. It had been kept in the living room in very hot weather all the time. The
illness continued and on the afternoon of 10th June, Mr. X. was removed to Hospital, where he died
at 8.30 a.m. on 11th June. An inquest was held on 14th June, the verdict being ptomaine poisoning.
Death by misadventure.
The report of the Ministry of Health, stated that B. Aertrycke had been found in practically
pure culture in the intestines, spleen and liver and kidney of Mr. X.
The reasons why the patients suspected the meat as a source infection were:—
(1) Because it was the chief article of their diet prior to their symptoms.
(2) Because it was found to be maggotty the following day.
The meat had a normal taste when eaten. The cat which had the raw bone did not become ill.
The butcher had purchased twelve to fifteen carcases of imported mutton and lamb at the
Central Meat Market on Friday, 2nd June, these were delivered to him the same evening and cut up
into about 100 joints for sale. Mrs. X selected the shoulder of lamb on 3rd June, this was placed in