The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-10-21
Sixty-twO Persons Poisoned at We'd
ding Supper.

On Thursday night last, says the Dal-
ton (Ga.) Enterprise, a marriage occur
red in Dalton which resulted in the
prostration of over fifty of our best peo-
pie from the effects of some kinds of
poison which had by some oversight or
mistake gotten into lot of custards
which was served out to the guests. On
Thursday night the marriage occurred,
as per notice in another column, of Mr.. |
w. j. Brazleton of Knoxville, and Miss
Lille Anderson, of Dalton, the cere-
mony being performed by Rev. A. w.
CASTOR at the Presbyterian Church.
After the ceremony a supper was given
in honor of the occasion by Mr.. and
Mrs. John Graves, the mother and step
father of the bride, to which an unusu-
ally large number of guests were invit-
ed. 1t seems, from all the information
we could CLEAN, that two tables were
set, at both of which custard was served.
That which was served at the first table
was favored with one ingredient, and
that at the second table with another,
and all that partOok of the custard at
the second table commenced to get sick
on Saturday, about fifty hours after 1t
had been taken into the stomach.
On Sunday more than fifty men, wo-
men and children were down, all of
them suffering with all the symptoms of
poisoning, denoted by vomiting and
purging, and in many cases with an in
tense burning in the region of the
stomach. The city physicians we're
busy the entire day Sunday and yester-
day, but in consequence of being unable
to diagnose the cases sufficiently clear
to determine what poison had been
taken, they were unable to treat the
cases other than in a general way.
Many of the patients were delirlous,
and numbers of them were almost destl-
tule of any action of the pulse. The
bride and bridegroom who left for a
! tour to Knoxville, and the family that
gave the supper, have not been heard
| from since the night in question, and
fears are entertained that they have
/ been stricken down somewhere in Ten
ncssee. At the time we 90 to press,
none of the afflicted persons, who con-
sist of the best people i'll the city, have
sufficiently recovered to be out, and
several cases are in critical condition,
with little hopes of recovery.
When it is remembered that the peO-
pie at whose house the supper occurred,
are among the best and most respected
people in the city, it will appear evi-
dent that some mistake has occurred
somewhere, or perhaps some new cheml-
cal action has been engendered that Is
at this time unknown. The only sur
mise seems to be that the custard in
question was favored with the extract
of peach leaves, but as this view of the
case does not seem plausible, some other
source must be looked to for the sOlu-
ton of the distressing affair. The opin-
ions of the city physicians vary in re-
gard to the exciting cause, but what
ever it may be, it is due to humanity
that it be cleared up by scientific in
vesti@ation, and that it be not allowed
TO remain vailed in mystery. The bare
fact of so much time elapSing between
the supper and the time that the pa
tients commenced to suffer is a subject
of much speculation. No blame, up TO
the present writing, is attached to any
one, and as all parties concerned are
down. even to the cook, who now lies
in Il very critical condition, the whole
affair seems to be regarded by the pub
lie, rs well as by the physicians, as be-
yond explanation, other than that some
chemical affinity had taken place be-
nveen certain ingredients which pro-
duced an element which is destructive
. TO human life. When it is remembered
that similar accidents have occurred on
account of eating creams, it is due Il
the world that scientific investigation
should develop the causes and action:
which engender under such circum
stances a dangerous chemical ingredient
in order that like occurrences may b'
guarded against in future. If the peacl
I leaves under certain circumstances lib
Grated prussic acid, the circumstance
which led to its formation should b,
known, the antidOte published, and tn
way pointed out to guard against its re
occurrence; no matter what attlnltle
! produced the chemical compound tha
| produced the violent sickness upOl
! every one who tasted the infected Gus
tard. the facts relative to it should b.
made known to the world, by strict
q searching and scientific investigation
J which would forever debar anothe
similar occurrence.
At the time of this writing no death
have occurred, although many are yer
!, low, and none can foresee what will b
!. the ultimate result.
| Since writing the above, we lear
: that Mr.. and Mrs. Graves have bee
Il heard from. They were both take
e sick in Tennessee, but were expected t
Il arrive in the city last night for treat
= ment.
0 Tit is reported by telegraph that thre
Il or more of the party have since died.
n Ed.