FOOD POISONING CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18323, 13 February 1923, Page 6

FOOD POISONING CASES.

FURTHER NOTIFICATIONS. y 1 PATIENTS PROGRESS WELL. PRECAUTIONS IN HOT WEATHER. Satisfactory progress toward recovery is being made by the residents of Baker Street who became ill from food poisoning after eating ice-cream. In addition to the cases mentioned yesterday th-3re has been another notification in this district, bringing the total up to 10. * Other ca,ses of a similar type are reported, three from the Mount Albert district and two from the city. The prompt attention of the Health Department has been given to all these cases. In one instance, which has only now been notified, the man became ill at the end of January, and he lays the blame to a meal • of tripe and onions eaten in the city. , Another of .the latest notifications is in regard to a man who ascribed his poisoning to a pie which he ate on Saturday ; a third case is that of a little girl who became unwell after eating icecream purchased at the shop where the first ten victims bought the ice-cream, which, it is suggested, was the cause of their illness. Bacteriological examination of ice-cream from this shop is being made, but the results will not be known for 'a little while. Until that examination is completed it is not possible definitely to say what was the cause of - the Baker Street outbreak. The symptoms bf sickness reported by other victims who have not eaten icecream are similar to those of the people affected in Baker Street. The first indication that anything is wrong is severe headache, followed by internal cramp, vomiting, arid diarrhoea. The illness does not follow immediately upon the eating of the suspected food. Tainted food eaten at night might not cause any feeling of distress until the following morning. The patient is not always able to say what was the cause of the illness, but generally puts it down to something taken at the last previous meal. Last summer there was something in the nature of a food-poisoning epidemic at a number of places in the Dominion, but it is understood that no deaths resulted. That widespread outbreak • was not traced to any definite article of food. In the hot weather the best safeguard against such illness is to exercise the most scrupulous care in regard to keeping food untainted and uncontaminated. The as-sistant-medical officer, of .health, Dr. J. Boyd, said yesterday. that one of the chief things to be guarded against was the contamination of food by flies. Muslin covers should be kept over all receptacles holding milk or cream, to keep out dust and flies, and care should be taken to see'that only perfectly fresh meat is eaten. In regard to preserved meats and pies, these should not be kept after they are cut, but should be eaten without delay. Cut and eat at once is the safe plan in hot weather with such foods. MORE OASES AT NEW BRIGHTON. STEWED PEACHES SUSPECT. [Br TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHBISTCHURCH, Monday. Three more cases of supposed food poisoning are reported from New Brighton, fortunately, however, with no fatal results. Those affected were G. E. Goodwin, New Brighton, head salesman for Messrs. Chas. Clarke and Company, auctioneers; Miss R. 0. Goodwin, his daughter; and Miss L. Denby, of Lower Riccarton, who was. staying with Mr. Goodwin. AH • the patients. are now out of .dapger,. and convalescent. \ It is thought that the poisoning ■ was duo to some stewed peaches . (not tinned}' which were eaten at tea on Thursday as only those who partook of the teaches were affected. Samples of* the food eaten at the meal have been taken by the Health Department for examination.