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thought it might have been one of those intestinal affairs of doubtful
bacteriology one sometimes sees in children, which resembles the
enteric group so closely in their symptoms."
On going into the source of supply it was found that these
cases were provided with their supply by one factor in a neighbouring
market. The factor in question had two sources of supply;
one in the western country and one north-west of London.
The facts were communicated to the Medical Officer of the
western county whose report on the water-cress beds was entirely
satisfactory.
I arranged to visit the nearer beds with the local Medical Officer
of Health. I found that there had been a history of para-typhoid
in the area previously. On inspecting the beds they were apparently
entirely satisfactory and up-to-date. The beds were supplied by
artesian wells, thus ensuring a satisfactory water supply. One
weakness however, was that grazing of cattle was taking place on
the grass land adjoining the water-cress beds, and the fences had
been broken down, so that access was possible by the cattle.
On investigating the matter closely, it was found that the water
supply, though sufficient for meeting the day to day needs of the
beds was inadequate when it came to washing out and replanting,
and on the lower beds in order to meet this difficulty, a neighbouring
and very polluted stream was tapped for this puropse, thus the
whole security provided by the artesian supply broke down at this
point. Samples of the water and water-cress were taken, and submitted
to the Lister Institute with the following report:—
"Report on examination of watercress.—Organisms of the
group (non-indol producing B.Coli) were found in cultures
from the cress. An organism having the biochemical characters
of Morgans No. 1 bacillus was also found. The pathogenic
significance of this organism is considered doubtful by most
bacteriologists at the present time as although it was found in
a large proportion of cases of summer diarrhoea examined by