FAMILY POISONED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21129, 11 March 1932, Page 8

FAMILY POISONED.

SEVEN IN HOSPITAL. FOUR SERIOUS GASES. SUDDEN ATTACK AT HOME. COLLAPSE AFTER MEAL. ALL FOUND HELPLESS. .Ml (lie nine occupants of a house .it 7, Newell Street, Point Chevalier, suddenly became ill with ptomaine poisoning last evening, and seven of them were removed lo the Auckland Hospital, where the condition of four v/as later reported to be serious. The other three were admitted while, the remaining hvo occupants of the house, were only slightly affected. The victims are:— Condition Serious. George Lauchlin Dunn, aged 44, blacksmith, of 7, Newell Street, Toint Chevalier. Mrs. Jessie Richards, aged 36, of Great North Road, New Lynn. James Lauchlin Dunn, aged 21, plumber's npprent ice. George Dunn, aged 10 years. Not Serious Cases. Mrs. Annie Isobel Dunn, aged 44: Miss Clara Nelson, aged 20, factory employee, residing at, 7, Newell Street, Point. Chevalier (parents residing in England); Doreen .May Dunn, aged J2. Miss ft. Dunn and Mr. Eric Dunn were able to remain at their home. Unable to Help Each Other. All of thp occupants of (he house were ai home in the evening except Mrs. Dunn and Miss S. Dunn. Mrs. Richards was the first, to feel the effects of poisoning shortly after 7.30 p.m. Mr. Dunn was the, ne\t, to become affected, and within a short time (he. whole household was ill. When Miss S. Dunn returned home she found the victims in different, rooms in agony, none <>f them being able, to help the others. Mr. Dunn and Mrs. Richards were in a state of collapse. Miss Dunn was slightly affected, but soon recovered. Mrs. Dunn had gone to a euchre tournament at the. club-rooms of the ]fa Ily hurt on-Johnstone Croquet. Club, at Point Chevalier. She felt the effects of the, poisoning later in the evening and wag taken to her home about 10.30 p.m., shortly after her daughter had returned home.

Transfer to Hospital. As soon as slip discovered the plight of the others, Miss Dunn summoned medical assistance. On arrival Dr. .T. .Aitken Paterson, of .Mount Albert, summoned the St. John ambulance and ordered (he removal of the worst cases to tlie hospital, the others receiving treatment. Two ambulances were sent to the house, while M iss Nelson and Dorcen Dunn were taken to the hospital by motor-car by Mr. A. Covle, of Point Chevalier, brother-in-law of Sir. Dunn. On arrival afc the hospital Mrs. Richards, Mr. Dunn and the two sons, George, and Laughlan, were at once admitted, while the others were treated in the casualty ward. After observation it was decided to admit them as a safeguard. It. is believed that, the poisoning arose from the consumption of pickled pork and tongues at the evening meal, which was shared by everyone in the house. Mr. Dunn had previously been seriously ill some months ago as the result of food poisoning, which on that occasion was thought to have been caused by eating whitebait. The hospital had been notified by Dr. Paterson of the position and when the sufferers arrived five doctors and three night nurses, in addition to the nurses on duty in the wards, were in attendance.