FOOD POISONING IN FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26513, 30 August 1951, Page 7

FOOD POISONING IN FRANCE

Victims Suffer From Hallucinations

(Rec. 11.30 pjn.) PARIS, August 29. More persons have been stricken today in the mystery poison epidemic which has killed three persons and caused more than 200 eases of mental and physical illness in the village of Pont St. Esprit, in the South of France. Hallucinations caused by the poison have sent the victims screaming that wild beasts and snakes are attacking them. Thirty-two are now in hospital in * a serious” category. Four have attempted to sommit suiCl< Mr Pierre Ollieu, Iwspector-Ganeral of the Ministry of Health, has arrived at Pont St. Esprit to co-operate with the country’s leading detectives in trying to solve the mystery. Specialists warned that it might be several days before the actual poison element was traced. The poison is believed to have contaminated the flour in the local bakehouse The Mayor (Mr Albert Hevrard) said: “I have seen healthy people suddenly become terror-stricken and furious, tearing off their clothing and screaming." The head nurse at the hospital said that a sick child screamed that her familiar toys had become threatening monsters. The police at the village, which is north of Avignon on the Rhone, have closed 21 of 23 flourmills in the district. Doctors are examining the theory that the poisoning is caused by a fungus which was known in the Middle Ages aa "Burning Death."