THE OKOROIRE MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 82, 8 April 1902, Page 3

THE OKOROIRE MYSTERY.

Inspector Cullen furnishes us with some further details of the report of Mr Pond on the exhibits submitted to him for analysis in connection with the Okoroire poisoning mystery. A synopsis of the report appeared in our issue of last evening, in the form of a Press Association telegram from Wellington. Mr Pond states in his report to the Commissioner of Police, a copy of which is in the hands of Inspector Cullen, that he made an exhaustive examination of the whole of the matter in the two jars, containing portions of the body of tlie deceased lady, and has been unable to dcttect any trace of poison, either alkaloid or mineral. He also analysed the other exhibits, including the foodstuffs, condiments, etc., vised in the hotel, and the results of his investigations proved that there were no traces of arsenic in any of the samples submitted to him. the food submitted being sound and wholesome. From the details of the ease, as described by the Inspector, Dr. Makgill, and. Con stable McG/illup, and als(s from the negative results of the analysis, he was of opinion that 'the cause of death arose from a septic alkaloid, or ptomaine, the symptoms of which are severe vomiting, diarrhoea, and prostration. The severity of these symptoms depends greatly upon the idiosyneracies of the patient, as well as the extent of poison exhibited. Erom (the evidence available, says Mr Pond, it would appear that the cream served with the lemon sponjre was the cause of the disaster. That 'this might probably be the case was shown by the fact that several deaths and man> serious cases have arisen from eat-. ins- ice-creams, or cheese in which a highly poisonous ptomaine, termed tyro-toxiein, has been present. A ca>e, closely analogous to the present one. was fully reported in the "Analyst" of IPsT>.