32 



Boyce announced to the physiological section at the 

 recent British Association meeting, that it is easy to get 

 rid of bacterial infection by placing the shellfish in a 

 stream of running water. When oysters were infected 

 with typhoid, and were then placed in a series of vessels 

 through which a stream of sea-water was kept running, 

 it was found that there was a great diminution or total 

 disappearance of the typhoid bacillus in from one to seven 

 days. The water need not be sea-water (although that is 

 best), but may be fresh-water with a little salt, as oysters 

 frequently live in estuaries which are brackish, or, at 

 times, almost wholly fresh ; and I may add, for the 

 comfort of troubled housekeepers, that a clean vessel in 

 the pantry sink under the running tap is a very fair 

 substitute for our more elaborate experimental apparatus, 

 and that even one day makes a great deal of difference in 

 the washing-out of the germs. I need scarcely say that 

 the oysters must be alive. It is no use subjecting oysters 

 that have been opened to this prolonged soaking. The 

 essence of the " degorgement " treatment is that the 

 living animal purifies itself. 



Authoritative inspection and licensing of the shellfish 

 grounds would, no doubt, result in many beds being at 

 once certified as quite healthy, and oysters from these 

 might then be sold without restrictions, and consumed 

 with peace of mind ; a few localities, which are discussed 

 in the Local Government Board Eeport, would be at once 

 condemned as unsuitable to have any connection whatever 

 with human food ; while there would remain a number of 

 spots in estuaries or near large towns where the conditions 

 are not absolutely bad and are not wholly good, and 

 oj^sters from such places should be subjected to the 

 " degorgement " treatment before being sold. One other 

 simple piece of advice : The oyster ought to be obtained 



