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when a retailer of mussels taken from the end of Southend Pier was brought
before a Magistrate at the Southend Police Court and convicted.
The facts shortly are as follows:—
In October the defendant sold to an Inspector of the Fishmongers'
Company a quantity of mussels. It was pointed out to him at the time that
mussels from this spot should not be sold for human food on account of their
being contaminated with sewage from the local outfalls, which discharged into
the River in the vicinity. Notwithstanding this warning, the man proceeded
to Erith, and there continued selling the mussels until warned by an Inspector
of the Port Sanitary Authority. On examination of the mussels, Professor
Klein showed not only that they were extensively polluted with sewage, but
that the organism of Enteric Fever was contained in some of the mussels.
The mussels were brought to me, formally seized, and taken before a
Magistrate at Southend, by whom they were condemned and ordered to be
destroyed.
The subsequent proceedings against the retailer were for selling mussels of
the kind above described. Evidence was given by Professor Klein on behalf
of the Port Sanitary Authority.
The case was one of considerable public importance, bringing forcibly to
the notice of hawkers of mussels that they must not collect their supplies
from sources where the shellfish were likely to be contaminated with sewage
effluent.

Remaining in Hospital on 1st January, 1905 7
Total number of days' treatment during the year 1,732
Average number of days' treatment for each case 22.49
The average daily cost of maintenance per head was 1s. 7d.