YOUNG GIRL'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 18

YOUNG GIRL'S DEATH

RARE FORM OF POISON INFECTED DUCK EGGS [from oun OWN con respondent] LONDON, Nov. 2S Jt was revealed at an inquest at South Shields that the eating of duck eggs had led to the death of Veronica Hudson, aged 12. The pirl died after an illness which n fleet eel tlio whole of the family. Her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. George Hudson, and two brothers, George, aged and Ronald, aged 7, were taken to hospital. The lather, who left 1 lie hospital to give evidence, stated that on November 5 the family had a dinner, which included Yorkshire pudding made with duck eggs. The following day his wife and Veronica had duck eggs for breakfast. Dr. W. Campbell Lyons? medical officer of health for South Shields, said his examination showed that the duck eggs woro the source of the infection. Death ivas due to toxaemia, cardiac failure, and gastro-ent.erit.is attributable to the eating of imported duck eggs which had contained the germ of salmonella . acrtryke. A verdict was recorded in accordance with the medical evidence. Poisoning by salmonella acrtryke is uncommon and deaths due to it even more so. It is believed that some eggs are infected from the duck, and, although in such cases cooking destroys tho germs, it does not destroy the toxin produced by them.