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Two colonies of the latter type of organism were examined and were
found to be aberrant coliform bacilli. The original brilliant green cultures
were then re-examined and a further non-lactose fermenting organism was
tested, and as a result of chemical and serological tests has been proved to be
Bacillus Newport. This organism is one of the salmonella (food poisoning)
group and usually obtains access to humans as a result of eating pork."
(d) In October, from a hostel, fifty-eight cases of food poisoning were notified
within a few days. The outbreak was investigated by officers of the London
County Council, and it is understood that a coliform organism was found which
might account for the outbreak. In this connection it is interesting to recall that
when a similar outbreak at this hostel was investigated by me last year a haemolytic
coliform organism was regarded as the cause on that occasion.
Other cases of food poisoning which were not notified came to the notice of
the department.
(1) In May, two adults had macaroni pudding for dinner. A few hours afterwards
they became ill with stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. The pudding
was bacteriologically examined and the bacteriologist reported as under :—
"The macaroni pudding yielded a growth of: (a) Pneumococci; (b)
Bacillus Subtilis ; (c) Coliform Bacillus. Pneumococci predominated.
In the macaroni pudding, organisms were found which were also identified
as being present in the milk received, and the macaroni. This finding tends
to show that the cooking of the article must have been inadequate. The finding
of Coliform Bacillus indicates that contamination occurred either before, or
subsequent to cooking. None of the organisms identified is of such a character
as normally to cause intestinal upset, excepting the Coliform Bacillus. This
organism may be of a type which might give rise to the symptoms complained
of by the individuals who partook of the pudding, but this particular organism
has not been identified as being originally present in the material from which
the pudding was prepared. In these circumstances, therefore, it would seem
that the only possible explanation of the occurrence is that this Coliform
organism obtained access to the pudding during, or after, preparation, and thus
caused the contamination and affected the individuals who became ill."
(2) In September a young child was taken ill with acute diarrhoea and vomiting.
Some days later, when she had recovered, her father came to the conclusion that
she was poisoned by some cheap sweets, and brought a sample with him to the
office. An investigation was made and the Bacillus Aertrycke was recovered from
the child's stools on two occasions. Bacteriological examination was then made
of the sweets, but the organism was not recovered from them.
(3) At the beginning of November thirty members of a local Sports Club took
a simple tea together, consisting of bread, butter, cheese, ham sandwiches and