The effect of spoilage and handling on the bacterial flora of fish.

Clean food 161 on ‘clean’ glasses. Whisky and wine glasses were found to be less contaminated, Beer and overflow beer were also examined with results which were not entirely satisfactory. Undiluted overspill beer languishing in its tray until it can be dealt with may contain washings off the bar tenders’ fingers and will not improve any fresh beer with which it is eventually mixed. Coliforms were isolated from six samples of overflow beer in numbers up to Ioo/ml. Staph. aureus was isolated from two samples and Strep. viridans from four. Non-haemolytic streptococci were found in three samples. There is, however, no evidence in the literature that anyone ever contracted infectious disease by drinking beer out of glass or pewter in a public house. There was far too little hot water available in public houses and when available the temperature of use was too low. Though glass-washing machines with hot and cold jets are very good when economically suitable, it is felt that a foolproof method such as the regular dispensing of a quaternary ammonium germicide into the washing water with, when there is room, a second rinsing sink properly maintained, furnishes a generally suitable and easily worked way of securing a clean glass. I n all methods sensible application is essential. T h e survey showed that in the houses visited sanitary arrangements for the public, especially for females, could be much improved. As in the investigation of restaurant kitchens, the survey resulted in improvements being carried out in some houses.