Dr. S. Monckton Copeman's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever in the borough of Eccles, Lancashire, due to the consumption of ice-cream.

  • Copeman, S. Monckton (Sydney Monckton), 1862-
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. S. Monckton Copeman's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever in the borough of Eccles, Lancashire, due to the consumption of ice-cream. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The suspicion which, as previously stated, was locally entertained that “ parkin ” and black treacle-toffee might have been the means by which the disease was spread proved to be unfounded; while the possibility of infection having been disseminated by the con- sumption of other foodstuffs, such as shell-fish, fried fish, tomatoes, or celery, was also eventually excluded. Early in my investigation evidence was obtained pointing to one particular source of infection as being mainly concerned in the appearance of the outbreak of enteric fever in Eccles, viz., the consumption of ice-cream, sold by two itinerant vendors in various streets of the infected area of the town, on certain dates in October, which it proved possible to determine with accuracy in many instances. The purchases of ice-cream, however, had not infrequently been made without the consent or knowledge of the parents, and in some cases notwithstanding specific instructions to the contrary, so that it was only by direct interrogation of the children—in some instances the patients themselves—that the actual facts were elicited. The number of cases in which evidence as to the consumption of ice-cream from the incriminated source was forthcoming, is shown on the following page. Of the cases referred to in this table, 142 in number, a definite history as to ice-cream from the incriminated sources having been partaken of was obtained in 108, or, if cases probably secondary are excluded, in 101. Other cases notified subsequent to my last visit and up to December 31st, 1910, have, as I am informed by Dr. Hamilton, brought the total number up to 166. But it is, perhaps, doubtful whether all of the 24 additional cases can be associated with the outbreak under consideration, even as secondary cases. In view of the somewhat unusual nature of the outbreak of enteric fever under consideration, and in illustration of the state- ments above, it may be of interest to set out the facts elicited in regard to the consumption of ice-cream in certain invaded households, the circumstances in connection with which were personally investi- gated by myself. These are as follows :— Household A.—This household consisted of father, mother, and seven children, of whom two have been attacked by enteric fever— a boy ret. 17 and a girl ret. 9. At first the parents absolutely denied that the children had had any ice-cream recently, and said that they were certain that none had been brought into the house for, at least, the past two months. The father says he generally gives the children \d. each on Sundays. On interrogating the children, however, I learnt that the girl of nine, who had been attacked by the fever, had been accustomed to get ice-cream which was bought for her by her brother of 17, also attacked by the fever, from a travelling ice-cream man in the street. On hearing this statement the mother remembered that, three Sundays previously, this boy had bought some ice-cream which he brought into the house to share with his sister. One of the children also stated that she saw her sister go out and buy ice-cream from a man in the street on Sunday, October 23rd, taking a tea-cup, as, it appears, is not unusually done