Daily Republican., 1885-09-28
A NEW POISON DISCOVERED.

1t II we'll known that cases Of severe
Illness sometimes follow the eating of
cheese. In the United States, and in
some parts Of Germany, such instances
are OF frequent occurrence. We hear
of s,milsr cases too in England and,
though less often, in France. Among
American dairymen cheese which pro-
duces such effects is known rs sick
cheese. Formerly this article was be.
made in small quantities on farms.
Some years ago, however, the reputa.
ton OF q large cheese factory In Ohio
was destroyed through the large num-
Der of cases OF alarming illness arising
from eating Of Its product; and more
recently, cheese poisoning became so
common Is to excite alarm among
dairymen. Finally, so many persons
were poisoned in the State Of Michigan
By cheese made in one Of It's largest
factories and by thoroughly expe-
rienced maker, that 1t WAS decided to
enter upon search for the mysterious
gu bstance which was causing all the
trou Die. This work was undertaken by
Prof. V. 9. Vaughan, who lately pre-
scented report of his investigation to
the Michigan State Board of Health.
The samples Of cheese examined had
no peculiarities Of appearance. odor or
taste Is which they could be distin.
yuishei from those OF good cheese. Qf
the two pieces, one Poisonous and the
. other wholesome, dog or Cat wou Id
choose the good cheese, but the Profess
sor thinks this Is due to an acuteness oil
the sense OF smell not possessed by m an.
The animals are not affected by eating
the cheese. Possibly IL q person tasted
q cheese knowing that IL was poisonous
L l. 49, I-k -. - n
which would not ordinarily be noticed
But there is no certain means, aside
from chemical examination, by which
q poisonou. cheese can be distinguished
from q wholesome one. The most trust
worthy, ready method of examination
is to press slip of blue litmus papel
against . freshly cut surface of ths
cheese. II the paper Ia Redeemed in
stsntly and intensely, the cheese maj
be regarded with suspicion. Wher
treated in this way any green chess
will redden the litmus paper, but ordi
narily tho reddenipR will be prod ucet
IslowIy and will be slight. If the piec,
Of cheese be dry 1t should be rubbed nj
with an equal volume Of water, ant
the paper should be dipped in tn,
, water. Dr.. Vaughan thinks tina
grocerymen should apply this test +
every fresh cheese.
81 After long and determined hun
the Professor succeeded in isolating tn
: poison, which Will now pass into chen
ical science under the name OF tyrotox
} ICON. 1t Ia found to be product of i'm
. perfect putrefaction in the cheess, an
n 1t occurs in the manufacturing vat, Il
the curd itself has been known I
I poison persons. Tyrotoxicon appear
Q In the form of reedle shaped crystal
i " lica are freely soluble in water.
The SIN allest visible fragments OF
: lcrystal placed upon the tongue cause
3 a sharp, singing pain, and in q fe
minutes dryness and construction {
: the throat. A slightly larger amour
produced vomiting, nausea and dia
u rbna. The isolated poison has
= Isharp, pungent odor, but in the chez
F. the taste and odor Of the poison a
IS both modified beyond recognitio
The poison is volatile, and even pc
F. sonous cheese may be eaten after 1t
Id cooked.
Toe symptoms observed in chez
=lpoisoning ara similar TO those caus
IC by tyrotoxicon, with the addition
L headache, double vision, and mark
=. nervous prostration. In rare instAnc
the sufferer d les OF collapse.