152 BACTERIOLOGICAL METHODS 



soft-shelled clams it will be found that if two incisions are made 

 through the mantle the shell water may be poured out without 

 opening the shell. It is stated that hard-shell clams may be 

 opened by striking the shell over the dorsal muscle with a hammer. 

 An opening is formed which will permit the insertion of a knife 

 with which to cut the muscle. In case any one shellfish does not 

 contain enough shell water to make a test, the water from several 

 individuals may be mixed. 



The examination of shellfish for sewage pollution is of the utmost 

 importance, as dangerously contaminated oysters are very com- 

 mon. In fact it would be advisable to discontinue the oyster as 

 an article of diet. At its very best it is a filthy article. It is 

 unquestionably a dangerous article of food, in this regard compar- 

 able to the mushrooms in the vegetable kingdom. However, there 

 is not the least likelihood that the oyster will be left from our 

 dining tables as long as there are any available. It is therefore 

 most desirable that the supervising of this food on the part of 

 those who are entrusted with the safeguarding of the health of the 

 people should be carefully and consistently done. 



Some authorities (English) recommend that the liquor and 

 oysters be mixed, the latter finely chopped, for the purpose of 

 making the colon bacillus test. There appears to be no gain from 

 this procedure and the method cannot be recommended. 



17. The Bacteriological and Toxicological Examination of Meat 

 and Meat Products 



Remarkable as it may seem, food bacteriologists have given but 

 little attention to the examination of meats and meat products, 

 despite the fact that fatal poisoning from eating infected meats is 

 very common. Intoxications ranging from mild to very severe, 

 resulting from the ingestion of more or less highly contaminated 

 meats are of daily occurrence in every community. At each in- 

 stance of a death or deaths resulting from the eating of bad meat, 



