POISONED BY FOOD

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1935, Page 3

POISONED BY FOOD

FOURTEEN PEOPLE AFFECTED. DEATH OF YOUNG FARMER. Dunedin, Jan. 14. An unusual instance of poisoning by which 14 persons were affected has occurred in the Balclutha district and as a result a young farmer, Mr. Seaton Anthony Mills, died in the Balclutha hospital. Mr. Mills, who was 29 years of ago, was married, with three children. He was well known in the district, having formerly resided in Balclutha. The deceased in company with his brother, Mr.' Robert Mills, conducted a sheep farm at Te Houka. On Friday, January 4, tne deceased killed a twotooth wether for consumption on the farm and after covering it with a cloth hung it in a shed. He cut it down early the following morning to get a chop for breakfast and the two families had roast mutton from the same carcase for dinner that day. The same afternoon the “flaps” and shanks from the carcase were boiled up by Mrs. Robert Mills in an enamel boiler, after which they were pressed for potted meat in an earthenware bowl and salted. A FATEFUL DINNER. The following day, Sunday, January 6, this meat was served for dinner, a meal to which 14 persons, six adults and eight children, sat down, the families of Messrs. Seaton and Robert Mills being augmented by that of their sister, Mrs. Ferguson, Gore. It was a happy family reunion which was so soon to be followed by tragic consequences. By. the evening every one of the 14 persons had suffered some ill-effects from the eating of the potted meat. Dr. Frengley was called in and prescribed for all of them. The deceased’s condition became worse during the week, however, and he was admitted to the Balclutha hospital, where he died on Saturday morning. DOG ALSO A SUFFERER. A portion of the potted meat which was left over from the meal was thrown to a dog, which became very ill after eating it but eventually recovered. Two children of Mr. Robert Mills had dinner with their grandmother that day and were not affected in any way. With the exception of the late Mr. Seaton Mills the other persons who partook of the meal recovered soon afterward, but a daughter of the deceased, aged about six years, suffered a relapse during the week and is at present in hospital; Her condition, however, gives no cause for alarm and it is expected that she will be discharged shortly. An inquest was opened at Balclutna this morning and adjourned until the results of a post mortem examination are known.