30 BACTERIOLOGICAL METHODS 



responsible for the poisoning of foods and drinks is of minor im- 

 portance. What is of prime importance to the food bacteriologist 

 is to find the poison and if possible to ascertain the manner in 

 which the poison gained access to the food substance, in order that 

 methods may be devised to guard against the recurrence of such 

 contamination. It may also be stated that in the great majority 

 of cases of food poisoning the nature of the poison and its source 

 have already been determined and means are available to pro- 

 tect the consumer. If the manufacturers of foods and of food 

 products would give proper attention to the modern methods of 

 manufacture, then poisonings due to the eating of such prod- 

 ucts will be a rare occurrence indeed. It is regrettable that so 

 many of the smaller establishments engaged in the manufacture 

 of food products are not better informed regarding the available 

 modern methods of preparing and storing food substances in such 

 a manner as to guard against infection and contamination. It 

 is also regrettable that the various pure food and drugs laws and 

 regulations intended to protect the consumer are not more effi- 

 ciently and more strictly enforced. 



We have already suggested a more efficient coordination of 

 the chemical, microscopical and bacteriological methods of analy- 

 sis in our food and drugs laboratories — federal, state, munici- 

 pal and private. The following are the bacteriological methods 

 applicable in the examination of foods and drugs as to quality 

 and purity. It is hoped that the suggestions offered may serve 

 as a basis for establishing more complete practical working 

 methods and at the same time indicate lines for further research. 



Just what bacteriological analyses and tests should be made 

 in pure food and drugs laboratories has as yet not been decided 

 upon. However, based upon the present purpose and scope of 

 such laboratories, we submit the following outline as covering 

 the field fairly well and which outhne will be followed quite closely 

 in the text, however not necessarily adhering to the same sequence 

 of the subject-matter. 



