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given day is in excess of that day's requirements it is kept in cold store for
use on the following day.
Investigation showed that the milk was prepared in strict cleanliness and
apart from the fact that it was mixed with water there was no evidence to show
that it could have been the source of the contamination. Nevertheless it is
evident that if the water used in preparing the milk mixture was itself contaminated
the mixture would serve as a good culture medium for the development of any
Typhoid organisms which might have gained access to the mixture from the water
used. Powdered milk is not issued to the Lascars who are supplied with tinned
sweetened condensed milk.
ICE.
20. There is no ice making plant on the "Mooltan" and consequently block ice is
taken on board at various ports during the voyage and on this occasion five
tons were taken on in Brisbane and six tons in Bombay.
This ice was kept together in a cold room in which, incidentally, also was
stored some frozen fish.
A very thorough bacteriological analysis of the ice was carried out and it
was found that it was definitely contaminated with excremental organisms, though
no Typhoid organism was recovered. This contamination appeared to be a surface
contamination and no doubt resulted from the unhygienic handling of the ice in
the course of its transport from the factory to the ship; not an uncommon
occurrence even in London!
Samples of ice taken from the centre of the block failed to produce B.Goli.
It is possible, therefore, that the ice may have become contaminated, either the
Brisbane ice or the Bombay ice, by a Typhoid carrier, but it is unlikely that the
Typhoid organisms would develop in the ice in store and other circumstances would
have to intervene to produce the development of growths likely to cause so
wide spread an outbreak in the ship.
The ice is used in keeping pats of butter cool, for cooling soft fruit and
other drinks of which quantities are consumed during the voyage and it is also
used for cooling bottles of mineral water that are served out in the bars and
saloons. Incidentally, all mineral water is carried in bottles.
Since the analysis of the ice showed the presence of B. Coli in considerable
quantity and also showed the ice to be dirty both physically and bacteriologicallyi
the ice as a medium of the origin of the infection and of its spread cannot be
ruled out. Measures were taken at an early date after the arrival of the ship
to lock up the ice and it was eventually melted down.
ICE CREAM.
El. Large quantities of ice cream were taken in at Sydney
500 quarts Chocolate Ice - 375 qts. remained when the ship arrived in London
1,000 " Strawberry Ice - 688 " ditto.
1,000 " Vanilla Ice - 761 " ditto.
The ice cream is supplied in grease-proof paper and cartons and the only
process through which it goes on board is cutting up into suitable sizes for
consumption.
Analysis of samples of the ice cream revealed the presence of B. Coli in
0.01 c.c. This is not surprising since ice cream is made from cow's milk and
it would be unusual if the ice cream were completely free of animal faecal
contamination. No Typhoid organism was found,
LABOUR CONDITIONS IN PORT.
22. It is not surprising that in view of the publicity that this ship has bad in
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