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In the discussion of ice cream in “ Bacteriology and Public 
Health,” by George Newman, he states that a “ small outbreak oc- 
curred in the city of London, affecting 16 telegraph boys. The 
symptoms were colic and diffuse abdominal pains, headache, vomit- 
ing, diarrhea, and nervous depression. Dr. Collingridge’s inquiry 
resulted in the following conclusions: 
(1) That in a number of cases* of illness occurring among young persons of 
a susceptible age the symptoms were strictly identical and were characteris- 
tic of poisoning by ingestion of toxic material. 
(2) That the cases reported followed the ingestion of ice creams. 
(3) That ice creams subsequently obtained at shops frequented by the pa- 
tients contained bacilli of a virulent character. 
(4) That the symptoms observed were those generally following the inges- 
tion of material containing such bacilli. 
(5) That where pathogenic bacilli were found, the ices bad been manufac- 
tured under insanitary conditions. The majority of the manufacturers are 
aliens, and although the premises may be kept in a fairly sanitary condition, 
their personal habits unfortunately leave much to be desired where the prepar- 
ation of food is concerned.” 
Dr. Klein examined 24 samples of ice cream from the same locality 
and found 13, or 54 per cent, to be poisonous to guinea pigs. 
In July of 1904 the medical officer of health of Battersea (Report 
of 1904, Public Health Committee of the London County Council) 
reported an outbreak of illness among the people who had eaten ice 
cream purchased at a particular shop. As usual in such toxemias 
the symptoms included abdominal pain, diarrhea, and collapse. 
The ice cream causing these poisonings had all been eaten and there- 
fore could not be examined, but an inspection of the premises showed 
very filthy conditions and in all probability the contamination of 
the cream was due to a dust bin in the immediate proximity of the 
shelf on which the ice-cream vessels were stored. 
Owing to outbreaks of this nature the London County Council 
(general powers act, 1902, secs. 42^5) has given powers for control- 
ling this trade : 
(a) Ice cream must be made and stored in sanitary premises. 
(5) It must not be made or stored in living rooms. 
(c) Strict precautions must be taken as to protection from contamination. 
( d ) Cases of infectious disease must be reported. 
( e ) The name and address of the maker must appear on street barrows. 
These regulations are new for London, though they have practi- 
cally been in existence in Glasgow since 1905, and in Liverpool since 
1898. 
That such powers are enforced by the officials having the public 
health of London in charge is demonstrated by the report, for ex- 
ample, of the sanitary conditions relating to the city of Westminster 
