THE PTOMAINE POISONING CASES
We were compelled, through pressure on our space yesterday, to hold over part of our report of the inquest on Thomas Trudgeon. The following concludes the report: —
George Malcolm Thomson, analytical chemist, said that he had received three tins of sheep's tongues (produced) from the police on the 3rd inst. One had been already opened. Two tongues were left in it, and they were covered with mould, as though the tin had been open for some time. The other two were unopened. All three tins were from the Gear Meat Company. Witness treated the unopened tins first for ptomaines, and he regretted to say that he had not finished the analysis of one. In none of the tins was there any metallic poison present. The meat in the unopened tins was not very tempting-looking. It was spotted, but this was no proof of poison. By the method he was following he was bound to find ptomaines if they existed. He had made a chloroform and an ether extract from the tins, and had put the residues in separate saucers of milk, with each of which a young cat was isolated. In the morning the milk in which the chloroform extract was had been all drunk, and the cat was well. Half of what had been in the other saucer was taken, and the cat had been sick. But this did not prove the presence of poison, though it gave rise to suspicion of that particular tin. He had made further extracts, with which he proposed to inoculate certain animals as soon as he could get them. He would probably have finished by Monday.
William Hilliard, constable (Stationed at Palmerston South, said that on January 27 he visited deceased's tent at Stoneburn, and found an open tin (produced), which contained two tongues. The other two tins (also produced) he purchased at Mr Phillips's store at Dunback. He searched for a particular tin that he had been told had been thrown out, but could not find it. There were several empty tins about.
James Phillips, jun., storekeeper, Dunback, said he knew the deceased Trudgeon and Riddell well. They were in the habit of getting stores from witness. They purchased some sheep's tongues from him— the last on January 16. They had purchased other meats and fish from him. On the date mentioned the deceased purchased two tins of tongues. They were of the same size and brand as those produced. He kept no other brands of meat. On January 27 he sold two similar tins (produced) to Constable Hilliard.
James Hugh Cunningham, gold miner, Stoneburn, said he knew the two deceased. He visited their tent on the afternoon of Saturday, January 21. Both were sick and in bed when witness saw them. They said they were sick, and thought the tongues they had eaten the night before were the cause of it. They did not say that those tongues were bad, but Trudgeon had mentioned that they had thrown away another tin of tongues because they did not like the look of it. They had taken one tongue each for tea, and were taken ill at about two o'clock on Saturday morning. Witness went to the doctor in Palmerston and got some medicine for the deceased. He saw them again on Sunday, when Riddell said he was a little better. On the following day witness went again to the doctor. Deceased were brought to Palmerston next morning, and sent on down to the Dunedin Hospital. On Friday, January 20, he saw deceased. They were then perfectly healthy, so far as witness knew. Witness believed that Trudgeon had not been working at the cyanide process that evening.
Sub-inspector Green intimated that these were all the police witnesses, and some discussion ensued as to whether or not, whichever way it went, Mr Thomson's evidence would prove anything.
A Juror remarked that it would mean a lot to the Gear Company. Nothing had been proved against the company yet.
The Coroner: We are not here to prove anything against the company, but to inquire into the cause of the death of Thos. Trudgeon.
Eventually it was agreed to adjourn the inquest to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, so that Mr Thomson's evidence might be had.
The inquest on the other deceased, Walter Riddell, was formally adjourned this morning to Tuesday afternoon. -Evening Star, 4/2/1905.
(From our Own Correspondent.)
WELLINGTON, February 5
An officer of the Health Department has been interviewed regarding ptomaine poisoning, apropos, of the recent case at Stoneburn, near Palmerston South. He states that there is no simple antidote or remedy for general and immediate use in cases of ptomaine poisoning. The symptoms were those of gastro-enteritis, and a layman could not be sure whether the cause was ptomaine poisoning or something else. The best thing to do was to get medical aid as soon as possible. As to prevention, the best thing was to avoid as far as possible eating tinned meat that had been opened for any length of time, and to observe the ordinary rules of cleanliness and sanitation. As a rule the decomposition in tinned meat that caused the trouble took place after the tin had been opened, and was not the fault of the manufacturer; but he had known cases of ptomaine poisoning arising from meat that had been just opened. Cases had been known to arise from eating shellfish — mussels, and at times oysters. A ham at a wedding-feast fatally afflicted several persons, and there had been some cases arising from milk, cheese, and butter, particularly when the dairy was within reach of the emanations of a drain. It was not an uncommon thing in this country to see a meat safe right over an open drain. He did not think ptomaine poisoning was increasing, but rather the reverse. There might appear to be more of it because it was only in later years it had been recognised. Cases before that probably passed unnoticed. -Otago Witness, 8/2/1905.
THE PTOMAINE POISONING INQURY .
A FURTHER ADJOURNMENT
The adjourned inquiry as to the death of Thomas Trudgeon, who died in the Dunedin Hospital on January 26, apparently in consequence of ptomaine poisoning, was continued at the Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson (coroner) and. a jury, of which Mr P. O'Neill was foreman. Sub-inspector Green represented the police.
Frederick Farquharson, contractor, of Dunback, said he knew the two deceased. They were working at Dunback treating tailings from the Golden Bar mine. They were camping by themselves. Witness saw deceased last before they were taken ill in the morning of January 21. The day before witness took up a loaf of bread and some butter from Mr Philip's store. He might have taken up tins of food before. Two or three days before he took up some goods from the store. The goods were left at the company's battery to be called for. When witness saw the two deceased on Saturday, January 21, they were in bed. Witness asked them what was wrong, and Trudgeon told him he thought it was the fumes of the stuff they had been working with the night before. They were, he thought, treating tailings for gold by the cyanide process. Both men had been vomiting. Riddell did not say anything. Witness went to the mine and saw the manager, and went up again about 10 o'clock to see the men. whom he found in the same state. Both men said they would like some tea, but they did not drink it when it was made. He got them some water, and Riddell drank some. The deceased said nothing about what they had been doing. Witness went back and told the manager the men were still sick. He did not see the goods being packed before he took them away.
Dr Hotop, resident house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, deposed that on Monday, January 23, Trudgeon and Riddell were brought to the Hospital, both being in a low state, but with no urgent symptoms. Trudgeon was slightly delirious. Both were evidently suffering from the presence of some poison in their system. Riddell explained that on the evening of the 20th they had taken their tea as usual about 6 o'clock, and about 2 o'clock in the morning they were both taken violently sick, suffering from vomiting and purging and severe abdominal pains. The meal, Riddell said consisted of tinned sheens' tongues, with onions, bread, and tea, and he attributed his sickness to eating the tongues. There was congestion of most of deceaseds' internal organs when they were admitted to the Hospital. Trudgeon was not capable of making a rational statement. When admitted both were very jaundiced, and Riddell was still vomiting incessantly. Trudgeon died on the evening of the 26th, and Riddell on the morning of the 30th. In each case the symptoms were much the same, and witness attributed their illness to the presence of toxin in the system, such as you would get in ptomaine poisoning. He considered what was revealed by the post mortem quite consistent with the appearances got in cases of ptomaine poisoning. Ptomaine poisoning arose almost invariably from eating meat that had at one time putrefied. Riddell told witness the tinned tongues were purchased from Mr Philip, storekeeper at Dunback, and the brand was that of the Gear Meat Company and the tin was one freshly opened. Diseased tongues could cause such an illness as the two men suffered from. The symptoms of deceased were many of them producable by other poisons than ptomaine. Some mineral poisons would produce similar symptoms. He was not familiar with the cyanide process, but did not think that cyanide of potassium would cause the symptoms in question. Cyanide poisoning might cause vomiting, but it usually came on very suddenly and was generally quickly fatal.
Dr Roberts deposed that on Friday, January 27. he made a post mortem examination of the body of Thomas Trudgeon at the Dunedin Hospital. The body was that of a quite healthy man, with no external marks. The internal organs were all free from disease. There was congestion of the mucous membrane of the intestines, very intense congestion of both kidneys, and a sort of dropsy of the upper surface of the brain. The post mortem appearances looked quite consistent with death from a ptomaine poison. The appearances in such poisoning were often negative — no poison was discovered, and the effect of the poison left no trace behind, no alteration of structure. Had there been cyanide poisoning, he should think the post mortem would have disclosed more traces of irritation. From the post mortem witness considered death was due to ptomaine poisoning. Witness saw nothing of deceased Riddell. In the putresence of flesh all kinds of poison were produced, and in eating preserved and tinned meats which had undergone bacterial chancre, one was apt to get these poisons, while the meat need not necessarily be much altered in appearance.
George M. Thomson, analytical chemist, deposed that he received three tins of sheep's tongues from the police on February 1, and produced the same. One of these tins had been already opened, and in it were two tongues covered with mould. The other two tins were unopened, and marked over the signature of James Philips, jun., all three being tins of the Gear Meat Company. Witness treated first the unopened tins for ptomaines, and regretted to say that as the processes were very long and intricate one of the tins was not yet finished. There was no metallic poison present in either of the unopened tins nor in the opened one. So far he had got two extracts, of which one had had no effect when given to a young animal, and the other had been got rid of by the animal by immediate vomiting. From two other extracts that he would make that evening a definite result might be got; but it was possible that he might secure no positive result at all, only a negative result. The contents of the tins not previously opened were not very tempting, and were spotted. They had no offensive smell, and there was nothing: to show whether they were good or bad. Ptomaine might arise after a tin was sealed up. It arose by action of bacteria, and was a very difficult thing to extract. If any ptomaines were present he was bound to get them by the process he was adopting.
Sub-inspector Green inquired as to the advisability of an adjournment till a definite result was obtained; but it was decided to hear the rest of the evidence.
William Hilliard, constable at Palmerston said that on January 27 he visited the deceaseds' tent at Stoneburn, and found the opened tin produced containing two tongues, and the other two unopened tins he purchased at the store of Mr Philip, Dunback. He searched without success for a particular tin that was, he had been informed, thrown out. The tussocks around were full of empty tins. The tin in the tent and the two bought by him bore the Gear Meat Company's labels, and were those produced.
James Philip. jun., storekeeper, of Dunback, deposed that he knew both deceased very well, and they were in the habit of dealing with him for stores. On January 16 they purchased two tins of tongues of the same description as those produced, and subsequently sold other two similar tins, (produced) out of the same case to Constable Hilliard.
James Hugh Cunningham, gold miner at Stoneburn, said he knew both deceased, and visited their tent on the afternoon of January 21 and found both sick in bed. They said they thought that their sickness was caused by eating tinned tongues, as they had eaten one each for tea the night before. Trudgeon mentioned that they had opened one tin and, not liking the look of it, had thrown it away. They had opened the tin they ate from directly before having their meal. As far as he remembered they said they were taken ill about 2 o'clock the next morning. Witness went to the doctor in Palmerston for medicine for the deceased that afternoon. Next day (Sunday) Riddell said he felt a little better, but witness went again to the doctor, and both men were removed to Palmerston next morning, and subsequently to the Dunedin Hospital, witness accompanying the men. On the 20th witness saw both men, who were apparently in their usual good health, and were at work. Trudgeon was not working with the cyanide on that evening when witness saw him.
Sub-inspector Green said these were all the witnesses to be called. As some of them had been put to considerable expense in coming here from Dunback, possibly the coroner would make a direction to the department that some expenses be paid them.
The Coroner said the application was a reasonable one. In respect to the inquest, it was possible that Mr Thomson's examination might reveal nothing. Even if he had found poison in the tin eaten from that would have been of little satisfaction, since ptomaine poisoning might have set up after the opening of if, and the contents of the two unopened tins might have been perfectly fresh.
The doctors had said that deceased's symptoms were consistent with ptomaine poisoning, and it was for the jury to say if they were satisfied with that. It would, of course, be more satisfactory to have the matter cleared up fully and have the analysis.
Mt Thomson said he could finish his work by Monday. There was a little suspicion attaching to the fact that one of the extracts already tested caused vomiting.
A juryman remarked that it would be more satisfactory to the Gear Meat Company to have the thing finished. Nothing had been proved against the company so far.
The Coroner: It is not to prove anything against the company that we are here, but to ascertain the cause of death.
A majority of the jury being in favour of an adjournment, the inquiry was then further adjourned till Tuesday at 5 p.m. -Otago Witness, 8/2/1905.
OUR DUNEDIN LETTER
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
A considerable amount of attention has been directed to the adjourned inquests respecting the recent Stoneburn fatalities. The popular theory as to the cause of the deaths of the two young men, after partaking, inter alia, of tinned tongues, was that of ptomaine poisoning. Different juries returned different verdicts — one finding that death was caused by ptomaine poisoning, and the other that death was caused by poisoning, the nature of which was not determined. From the expert evidence tendered one important feature stands out strongly, and that is that absolutely no proof was furnished by analysis that the Gear Meat Company’s product contained the semblance of ptomaines or of any other poisonous materials. Indeed, Professor Black’s statement that he partook of portions of the tongues submitted to him for analysis proves conclusively that that gentleman did not entertain any misgivings as to the quality of the food. Mr G. M. Thomson, analytical chemist, said he had made a thorough test of the food and found no poisonous ptomaines. Had there been any poisonous ptomaines, he said he would have found them, and they would have shown their effects. It was suggested at the inquiry that a frequent amount of handling of tinned foods rendered the tins liable to perforation, enabling poisonous bacteria ingress, and Mr Thomson suggested that preserving companies should stamp the tins with the date when the food was enclosed. It seems a pity the police fastened on to the theory that the fatalities at Stoneburn were directly due to poisoning arising from the eating of tinned meat, and thus allowing the other articles of food to pass unnoticed, for the public, having regard to the expert evidence, must necessarily feel dissatisfied with the. late coronial inquiries. It appears that the Gear Meat Company’s product was perfectly wholesome — a reassuring statement — but the fact remains that two young men lost their lives apparently from poison taken with their food, and some apprehension must exist in the public mind which the recent coronial inquiries have not dispelled. -NZ Mail, 22/2/1905.
IN MEMORIAM
RIDDELL. — In loving memory of Walter Alexander Riddell, A.O.S.M., who died at Dunedin, January 30, 1905. So loved, so mourned.
ROBERTS. — In loving memory of John William Roberts, of North-East Valley, Dunedin, who died 1st February, 1905. "Till the day dawn."
TRUDGEON. — In loving memory of Thomas Trudgeon, who died at Dunedin on the 26th day of January, 1905. -Otago Daily Times, 5/2/1906.
