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3
The results of our investigations differ slightly from the report
of the Medical Officer, but we were interrogating everyone who had
been ill, whereas his report deals with those who reported sick to
him. The following facts were elicited:
Form of Illness.
Onset was sudden with vomiting (profuse in many cases),
abdominal pains (severe in, most cases) and persistent diarrhoea,
with—in some cases—headache and sore throat. The average duration
of the illness was three days, varying from one to seven days—
with, in some cases, a recurrence after two or three days.
Incidence.
Approximately 80 per cent. of the cases occurred between the
26th February and the 1st March inclusive. The highest percentage
of the total cases being amongst the office staff, as compared
with operatives.
(See graph opposite).
Possible Soukces of Infection.
(1) Food from Canteen.—Of the 169 cases recorded up to the
8th March, no foodstuffs could be traced which were in any
degree commonly consumed by those affected.
(2) Air from Factory Processing.—This can be ruled out as the
Office staff, which shows the highest percentage incidence,
has no direct communication with the factory processing.
(3) Beverages consumed on premises, including water.—A very
large percentage of the cases consumed water (98 per cent.),
either raw or in coffee or tea, on the premises. Those
sufferers who state they did not have any beverage on the
premises had foodstuffs which were cooked in the same water.
A number also drank milk on the premises, but this beverage
was not to any marked degree common.