The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-02
a NEW POISON.
The Result of Chemical Search Caused
by Cheese Poi<onin-.

Aue Result OF a theu'c1t Search Cause ed
by Cheese Poi<oniu-.
1t is well 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 similar cases. too in England and.
though l1ss often. in France Among
American dairFmcn cheese that pro-
,iuceS such effects is known as : elk
cheese. Formerly this article was be-
iiered 10 be confined wholly to chceses
made in small quantities on farms.
Seme years ago. however, the reputa-
sion of large cheese factory n Chic
Gas destroyed through the large num-
Ger of eases OF alarming Illness arising
from eating of lis product; and more
recently. cheese poisoning became so
common as to excite alarm among
dairymen. F nally. so May persons
were poisoned last year in the State of
Michigan by cheese made in one OF its
largest factories. and by thoroughlv
experienced maker. tina. il was decided
to enter upon search for the III, ster-
Gus substance which was causing all
IN, treuble. This work was under
taken b. Prof. V. c. Vaughan. who
lately presented a report o. h S iDvesti-
Cation to the Michigan State Beard oil
Health.
The samples of cheese exam ned
hal no Decul .arities of appearance.
'odor or taste by which theg could be
dist nguishei from those OF good
cheese Of two pieces. one poison
Gus and the other wholesome a dog
or eat would choose the good cheese.
bat the Professor thinks this is due 10
an acu.eness OK the sense OF smell
not possessed b. man. The animals
are not affected by eating the cheese.
Possibly If a person tasted cheese.
knowing that it was 20 sonous he
n ght detect a sharpnesS o. taste
which would not ord uarlly be Eo-
iced But there Is 40 certain means.
aside from a chem cal exam nation. ~
winch POISONOUS Cheese can be DIS
t'EgIl5he1 from L wholesome ore
The most Trustworthy. ready method
OF examination is to pyess STRIP Of
biae Etmus pape- against Il FIRE .IIy
cHt surface OF the cheese. Ii the IA
per is redd ned instantly and intense
IL. the cheese NAV be regarded with J
suspicion When treated in this way
any green cheese w II redden the
litmus paper. but ordinarily the red
dening Will be produced slowly and |
VIII lee eight. If the piece of cheese
b. dry II should be rubbed Up with an
equal volume of water. and The paper
should then be dipped in tire water. /
DR.. VsaghA thinks that grecrryinen /
should apply this test to every fresh
cheese.
After long and determined hunt
the Professor succeeded n so!a.ing the
poison. which will now pass into chem
cal science under The ns0le of TWO OK
con 1t is found TO be proisxet of
putrefaction % the cheese,
.nt II occurs In tie man # &C turing vat.
or the curd itself has been known 10
poison persons T,rotoxicon appescs
a the form of ncedle-shapej crystals.
which ara freely soluble in water TIE
'maliest visible fragments Il crystal
placed upon tae tongue caused 3 sharp.
;lnging pain. AMI in 3 few miautes1
lryness and construction of the throat.
slightly larger amount produced
nausea and diarrhPa. The
solated poison has q sharp. pungent
dor. but in the cheese the taste and J
dor OF the poison are both modified
eyond recognition. The poison is
olatlle, and even poisonous cheese ::
pay be eaten after it is cooked. /!
The symptoms observed in cheese.
are similar to those caused
Z tyrotoxicOn. with the addition of
eadache, double Wis on and marked q
efyous prostration. in rare instances a
lie slferer di,s from eoNapse.-N Y 7
Ha