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79.
The clinical symptoms and signs suggested some
form of poisoning, probably food poisoning and on the
following morning I had a specimen of his faeces sent
to the Bacteriological Laboratory of the Ministry of
Health. Dr. Scott of the Ministry reported to me that
Bacilli Aertrycke were present in the specimen in large
numbers. There was therefore no doubt both from the
clinical symptoms and signs, and from the bacteriological
result that the case was one of food poisoning due
to this bacillus.
I obtained a history of the patient's diet from his
wife and this was corroborated by the patient himself.
The patient was admitted to St. George's Hospital 011
Monday, 17th September, but he gradually became
worse and died five minutes after midnight on Wednesday,
19th September.
Unfortunately none of the food which had been
taken remained for examination so that it was impossible
to say definitely which food accounted for the illness.
The articles had all been taken by other persons in
addition to the deceased with no ill effects. I ascertained
the sources from which all the foods were bought.
Canterbury lamb was purchased in Fulham and several
articles were bought in other boroughs. All the shops
in Fulham and in the other boroughs from which the
purchases were made were inspected, but no suspicious
circumstances were found.
A post-mortem examination was done on the body
of the deceased and I gave evidence at the inquest which
was held at the Coroner's Court, Westminster, on
Monday, 10th September. The Coroner was of opinion
that there was nothing suspicious among the various
meals taken at home and that he had probably taken
some food away from home. This would account for
the absence of any symptoms of illness among other
members of the family.
The Coroner came to the conclusion that the man
undoubtedly died of food poisoning and recorded a verdict
of "Misadventure."