POISONING CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1181, 22 May 1884, Page 3

POISONING CASE.

A curious case of accidental poisoning has just come under the notion of Dr. Townend in bis practice. He was called in to an unexplained case of illness in Montreal street. The patient, a man named Foster, was suffering from what he considered an aggravated bilious attack. The symptoms, however, were such as are caused by swallowing an irritant poison, such as arseDic, and the doctor's inquiries were directed to the food Foster had swallowed before he became ill. It appears that on the previous day he had drank a quantity of beer wlibh he had brought home from the Carlton Hotel in a bottle. This Dr Townend put to a chemical test, and the preseuce of oxalic acid was indicated. He at once applied the proper remedies, and Foster is now out of danger, and doing well. On further examination the bottle shows more than a trace of the acid. Thero are crystals of it in the corners, such as would be deposited if a tion of the poison were exposed to continued evaporation. This acid is a [ deadly poison, and is generally used with wreat caution. It is invaluable for cleaning metal work, such as brass plates, locks and my handles. la hotels its value for

cleaning pewter pots is not unrecognised. The licensee of the Carlton Hotel, however, lias never used it for that purpose. Indued the bottle which contained the beer and the acid probably came from outf-ide, large numbers of bottles being collected and supplied to customers in the course of what is called the outside trade, that is, the sale of liquor to be consumed off the premises. They are rinsed out before being issued, but though possibly to some people a satisfying safeguard against imbibing the dirty remains of the bottle's former contents, this is obviously no effectual process for the removal of crystalised matter,—Christchurch Press.