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with than otherwise and in many cases small areas of localised peritoneal adhesions or
calcified dead parasites are found and after excision of the affected parts (in a fair
proportion of cases) were passed as fit.
Horses. 13,718 horses were examined in which no case of tuberculosis was found.
Six carcases were totally rejected, for extensive bruising (2), oedema (3) abnormal odour
(1). Partial rejections were comparable with those of the previous year.
g°ats, 3,423 goats were examined, in general there was an improvement in the
quality of the goats as compared with those received in the previous year. Forty-four
carcases were totally rejected, for fascioliasis (4o)oedema (3), septic pericarditis and
septicaemia associated with mastitis (1). Six hundred and nine livers were rejected on
account of fascioliasis, other parasitic conditions and abscesses. English goats are
rarely if ever affected with fascioliasis but the condition is very common in goats
received from Eire.

OUTBREAKS. There was one outbreak of food poisoning.
The first case to occur was that of a child who was taken ill on the 1st December,
but the majority of cases occurred from the 12th to 15th of the month. In all, 21 cases
came to our notice, but conversation with residents in the area makes it clear that many
more - probably over 100 people - actually suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting. There
were no fatal cases.
The usual story was that after an interval of 24 hours from eating meat bought from
a particular shop, the patient started to suffer from diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain
which usually lasted for 48 hours, but which persisted in other cases for a week or more,
and investigation showed that the pork brawn had been prepared by an assistant in the
butcher's shop who also handled other meat.
This assistant had herself suffered from no symptoms, but she proved to be a
carrier of the organism Salmonella Enteriditis which was the cause of the outbreak. This
assistant was suspended from food handling duties and she, together with other members of
the staff, were carefully instructed in the hygiene of food handling. She quickly responded
to treatment and soon became bacteriologically clear.
The washing arrangements at the butchers were not considered satisfactory and additional
facilities are being provided. The shop was otherwise well run and clean, and the staff
appeared to be clean in their persons. It is pleasing to be able to report that the trader
and his staff gave their fullest co-operation in the measures needed to bring the outbreak
to an end, and to improve the hygienic conditions of the premises.
Doctors in the area were immediately warned of the outbreak and were kept informed
as the investigation proceeded; they were asked to report any suspicious symptoms. No
cases occurred later than 48 hours subsequent to this Department being informed of the
occurrence of the outbreak.
Of the 27 single cases which came to the notice of the Department, the agents were
identified in 4 cases, and the cause remained unknown in the other 23. As sq ,often happens,
in many cases information was received too late for effective action to be taken.
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