POISON IN FOOD

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 6

POISON IN FOOD

WHOLE FAMILY SERIOUSLY ILL THREE CHILDREN DEAD SV TELBGSAPH—PBBSB ABSOCt ATIOW. Christchurch, February 5. There was no change this morning in tho condition of the surviving members of tho family who were admitted to tho hospital on Saturday from New Brighton, suffering apparently from ptomaine jxiisoning. Tho family consisted of Michael Cook (dairyman), his wife, and family of six children. Three who have died since their admission are Kenneth and Amy, twins, aged 19 months, and Maud, aged eight. Tho poisoning was contracted at. tho evening meal on Friday, when the food eaten consisted of bread and butter, milk, blanc mange, stewed fresh apricots, and tea. No meat or tinned food was eaten at the meal. The effects of the poisoning were not felt until early on Saturday morning, when the whole family became seriously ill. At noon they were nil in such a serious condition that a doctor was called in and ordered their removal to the hospital. The first to diq were the two youngest children, who were twins, and the next youngest, Aland, died yesterday afternoon.' Andrew, the youngest surviving, is in a critical condition, and the remainder ’of the family are ah seriously ill. Dr. Telford, local medical officer of health, has obtained samples of all tho food in the house, and these will be analysed to trace how the poisoning originated.