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uncommon occurrence to see the tins actually burst from the pressure of the
gas inside. When tins are blown it is palpable to all that the goods are unsaleable.
Even if they were sold in this condition, no one would partake of the
contents, which often smell abominably immediately the tins are opened. At
one time, there was a fairly common practice of pricking tins that were only
slightly blown, to liberate the gas and afterwards re-soldering the holes. The
tins were then cleaned and fresh labels were pasted on, which covered the
pricked holes in the ridges at the sides of the tins. The bulging of the tins
disappeared and they assumed their original shape and form. When I was
Medical Officer of Health to the Limehouse Board of Works, I instituted
proceedings in February, 1899, against a large wholesale dealer who practised
this dodge. The case lasted several days, and a great deal of interest was
taken in it by the press, and the methods adopted for pricking.and re-soldering
the tins were therefore given wide publicity. The dealer was sent to prison
for five months with hard labour. I am glad to state that since this case I
have found no evidence whatever of such a fraudulent method of dealing with
blown tins so as to make them appear that the contents are sound.
There is a condition that may cause the tins to appear blown to the
uninitiated, when in reality they are only collapsed. This occurs when the
tins have been crushed in some way ; one part of the tins is bent and the ends
are bulged. This condition causes the tins to be sold cheaper, and makes
them unsaleable except to provision shops where the food is sold by weight, or
where it is used for making sandwiches, The contents of these collapsed tins
are perfectly wholesome.
Sometimes the contents of the tins may be in an advanced stage of putrefaction,
although the tins shows no signs of bulging. When this is the case, the
condition of the contents can only be ascertained by opening the tin. This is
due to the fact that the food had become decomposed prior to its being canned.
Antiseptics were added to prevent any further decomposition. As no decomposition
actually took place after canning, no gas was evolved, and therefore
the tins did not become blown although the meat itself was tainted. This
probably occurs oftener with tinned tongue than with any other kind of potted
meat.
The rule may, however, be taken as practically correct, that with this
exception, decomposed food will cause the tins to bulge or become " blown."
Before the gas has accumulated in sufficient quantity to have any effect
on the tin, so far as can be seen by the eye, its presence, and therefore the
presence of putrefying food in an early stage may be detected by an experienced
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