SEWAGE CONTAMINATION OF OYSTER BEDS. 195 



Bacteriological examination of 03'sters from the common source 

 revealed the presence of ^. coll and B. enteritidis Gartner, but not 

 B. tyj^hosus. 



In the same j^ear it was reported at a meeting of ph3'sicians at Fera, 

 Turkc}", that a large percentage of typhoid cases which occurred in 

 Constantinople could be traced to the consumption of oysters from 

 polluted sources. Examination demonstrated the presence of B. coU 

 in many and of B. ft/j)/wsi(S in a few specimens. 



Also, in 1902, an extremely large number of tj^phoid cases was re- 

 ported in Atlantic City, N. J., during the summer months. A very 

 careful investigation of the sanitary condition of the water supply, 

 the milk and food supply, and of the sewage-disposal system was 

 made b}'^ Philip Marvel. He came to the conclusion that the increase 

 in the number of these cases was due, in a great measure, to oysters 

 fattened near the outlet of one of the city sewers. 



In November, 1902, occurred also the famous "oyster epidemics'" 

 at Winchester and Southampton, Eug-land, which were investigated 

 hj Doctor Bulstrode and reported to the local government board in 

 May, 1903. At two banquets given by the mayors of these cities 267 

 guests were present. Shortly after the dinners 118 of the guests v»' ere 

 attacked w^ith gastroenteritis, and all of these had eaten raw o3\sters. 

 Tweutj'^-one cases of tj^phoid fever, 5 of which were fatal, also de- 

 veloped as a result of eating the 03^sters. 



Doctor Eraser reports an epidemic of typhoid fever at Portsmouth, 

 where 25 persons were attacked with this disease after eating raw 

 oysters. 



In 190-4 the following facts in regard to typhoid due to infected 

 oysters were published in the iourth report of the commissioners of 

 sev\'age disposal: 



TDoctor Nash, health officer at Southard-on-Sea, states that 50 per 

 cent of the cases of enteric fever at that town were due to consumption 

 of shellfish from sources contaminated by sewage. Out of 105 cases of 

 that disease at least 85 bore some connection to polluted shellfish; also 

 that the number of cases occurring at Yarmouth was greatly reduced 

 after the sale of mussels was stopped in that town. 



Doctor Newsholme, of Brighton, makes the following statement in 

 regard to the cases of tvphoid occurring in that cit^'' during the years 

 1891 to 1902: "There were C43 reported during this period; 158 cases 

 were directly ascribable to the consumption of o3^sters and 80 to other 

 shellfish. In other words, 37 per cent of the total number of cases is 

 due to polluted shellfish." In the opinion of Doctor Newsholme the 

 extent of the illness attributable to shellfish is probabl}' understated. 



Doctor Niven, of Manchester, reports 271 cases of t3q:)hoid out of 

 2,664 occurring in that cit}'^ during the years 1897 to 1902, inclusive, 

 as due to the consumption of shellfish. 



