PTOMAINE POISONING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7508, 16 September 1902, Page 2

PTOMAINE POISONING.

The fatal epidemic of poisoning reported from Derby, England, recalls the fact that the history of this colony is not free from similar experiences. During the last year, more than one case of the kind has been reported in New Zealand, and some have resulted fatally. Most of our readers will remember the occurrence at the Okoroire' Hotel, in March last, when seventeen persons were poisoned, and one actually died. Other case, have been -reported from time to time, and the list of fatalities at present lying in front of us is long enough to imply that a very serious danger lurks in certain articles of food, .which find a ready sale throughout the colony. This, at any rate, appears to be the view takm by the Health authorities. Not long ago Dr Mason considered the matter so serious that he made an analysis of the cheaper 'brands of tinned meat consumed in New Zealand,, and, although the results of his investigations have not been published,, we feel justified in assuming that they will disclose evidence altogether unfavourable to much of the cheap tinned meat imported into the colony. It is a curious commentary on our boasted meat products that a considerable quantity of inferior meat is imported into the colony. The craze for cheapness, which pervades a very largo section of the community, is no doubt accountable for this surprising fact, and may, therefore, be held responsible for the ravages of ptomaine poisoning, whioh carry off a certain number of victims every year. It is too much .to expect that the public will exercise, in the future, more prudence in the matter of purchasing tinned food than they have shown in. the past ; but, at least, they ought to be protected from themselves. If they will not learn to use only reliable brands of meat, the Government should intervene and take away the dlangerous temptation afforded by many of the cheaper sorts, i