FOOD POISONING

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19450, 14 December 1934, Page 7

FOOD POISONING

AT PUKEICOHE. i i TWO MORE CABES. WOMEN ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL. AUCKLAND, Friday. The food poisoning cases at Pukckohe involving the Nicholson family took a more serious turn last evening when there were two further patients in the hospital apparently suffering from the same complaint. They are: 1 Mrs Elsie May Tout, of Onewhero, condition not serious. Mrs Margaret Burrow, of Totara Avenue, Pukekohe, condition early this morning fairly serious. The direct cause of the poisoning in these cases is not known. WARNING BY* OFFIOIAL. * PROTECTION FROM FLIES.

AUCKLAND, Friday,

"It is not yet proved that food poisoning is responsible for the illness of the family, but that is the suspected '' cause,” a Health Department official said yesterday. 1 ■ “There is a popular misapprehension regarding ptomaine poisoning and food poisoning." lie continued. “Many people think that they are one and the same thing, whereas they are two distinct diseases. Food poisoning, strictly speaking, is due to a definite infection by a germ of that group. .Ptomaine poisoning is due to putrefactive toxins, and in human beings is caused chiefly by eating food that has been in defective tins, or any food beginning to decompose.

“Apart from the usual, precautions taken by the average householder, there is nothing to give as a guide about food poisoning. The mode of infection is generally by flies coming into contact with food after they' have been among contaminated refuse. The main precaution to take is to exclude flies by keeping fdod In a proper safe."

FOOD TO BE ANALYSED. , JOINT OF MEAT SUSPECTED. PUKEKOHE, Friday. The four members of the Nicholson family partook of a meal on Monday evening which comprised a joint o£ cold roast beef, potatoes, Spanish cream, sponge cake, tea, butter, sugar and home-made lemon drink. : Mrs Nicholson and her son and daughter became 111 at about 4 o’clock on Tuesday morning, but Mr Nicholson, sen., was not affected until 5 o’clock on the same evening. y.y Jusm-. This afternoon Constable W. Mawhinney made investigations at the house occupied by the family and took possession of the remainder of the joint and other food which remained from the meal on Monday. Samples of the food were handed this afternoon to yie district health officer, Mr R. J. .McGee. At present the meat is suspected as the cause.