§ 39. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to several deaths from a disease called botulism, which is reputed to be caused by eating tinned foods; and whether, in view of the quantity of this class of food which is now consumed by the public, the proposes to issue any special orders or instructions to medical officers of health on the matter?
Mr. WALSHThere have been a few deaths from an obscure disease presenting nerve symptoms which resemble those of the very rare food disease hitherto unknown in this country called botulism. The disease is under investigation by my Department, in collaboration with the Medical Research Committee. The inquiries which have been made up to the present have failed to associate the illness with the consumption of any particular article of food, and no special Orders regarding food are at present contemplated.