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78
(2) 5th Cross Bed (Stems below water)Polluted
(typical B.coli present).
Other beds round the district—which were possible sources of
supply, were inspected by the Medical Officers superficially and a
clear bill given, but in no case was any bacteriological examination
undertaken. There seems to my mind to be a call for a definite report
on the water-cress industry. For instance, one found in one
case the farmer accompanied by a dog dashing hither and thither
and fouling the banks. In view of the report by Dr. Cory Mann on
the value of water-cress, it is being consumed in houses where previously
it did not gain access, and it would seem that the time has
come when something should be done to investigate and regulate
the manner in which watercress is grown and marketed.
The next case was notified from a hospital, having been admitted
from an address from the borough bordering the eastern end
of our district.
The next case which occurred was at the extreme end of the
western district in a child aged 12. Apart from ice cream from
various sources, no article of food came under suspicion.
The next case, a male aged 19, was notified from the Hounslow
Hospital. The patient had been sent in with acute gastric intestinal
disturbance from a neighbouring district, and the widal reaction
showed it to be a case of para-typhoid B. In this case there
was no history of shell fish or water-cress or lettuce, but a history of
drinking from a pond which was probably polluted.
The next case occurred on the 2nd August in the centre of the
district, and there appeared to be nothing particular.
The next case occurred on the 7th August at the north end of
the district in a child aged 2. The only possible source in this case
was lettuce. The case was bacteriologically para-typhoid B.
The milk supply in this case was the same as the last, but this
is a very large firm, and nothing so far had caused their supply to
be suspected.