The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-08-19
PolsoNs M MAI FOODS.
"Ptomains." which Result from the re-
cay Of Meat-Other Causes

"PtonRinssr Which Result from the re-
cay Of Meat Other Causes
lIatsr oesan fnteryIsvl
DR.. Edward n. Hale, on being asked
Tor his opinion as 10 the cause Of tho 70.
cent poisoning Of the people Of No.
mence. Ills, By eating dried beef, said
without giving any opinion as to the
haturoo the poison in tho dried beef,
because no mbroscopical or chemical
animation Of sufficient minutenOss
has been made, ] am inclined to think
the poisonous element was one OF the
ptomaines which result from the decay
Of meat, under certain conditions as yet
unknown. Not all tho ptOmaines are
poisonous, and Of those which are poi.
sOnous not uli are OF equal resistance
Some cause symptoms similar TO Strych.
MIA, copper, and other commissions.
Others resemble arsenic In their e..eCts.
while few Catlso effects similar 10 the
poison OF sorpenls. There are two con
illusions to arrive at. (i.l The meat
must have been in a condition to do.
We op ptomaineS before an attempt was
made 10 cure II, and that attempt
must have been insufficient, or (G) tho
meat, originally good, was imperfectly
cured, allowing ptomalnes to form in II.
Meat properly saited, smoked,
picked, or cooked by beat, will not do.
yelOp plomaineS, or triChina. Tho idea
that any poison placed on the meat
could have produced tho kind Of illness
observed Is absurd, for no poison but
arsenic causes such symptoms, and that
could DO readily detected on tho meat
1.-THE sub Get Of ptOmaines is destined
10 be an interesting one to physicians
and lurists They have developed in
canned meats oysters, sausageS, yeast,
Custartls, milk. have had several
cases Of persons who were dangerously
poisoned by eating custards, custard
pies, etc, which vera too oil. Such
should DO eaten fresh baked or not at
all. Very poisonous ptomaine alkaloids
develop in Ice cream, and often prove
fatal to those who indulge. The
ptomaines which form in Sausages and
derayed fish are very poisonous. 1t IL
supposed to be this agent that causes
tho terrible poisoning Of medical stu.
dents and undertakers, who get it from
wounds in dissectiOns,
Those opicures who arc fond OF
high meats-'tainted isR better name
should remember that every timO they
eat such meats they are liable TO swai.
low the ptOmaino pOisons, Probably
the reason why ptomaines do not do.
1elop in such meats ia because they are
hung up exposed to the mir until eaten.
these poisOns develop more rapidly
when meats are excluded from tho air
This is probably the reason why canned
meats often generate poison. In the
present rage for beef extracts, conCen.
trated meat foods, ETC., it should not
DO forgotten that ii improperly prepared
they often generate poisons. It is
known that ptomaine similar to the
poison Of hydrophobia develops in the
saliva Of men and animals under the in
tluencc OF anger or starvation. Another,
developed under similar circumstances,
causes symptoms like cholera. a negro
recently diol with Gholeric symptoms
after eating a cock killed in the pit. in
Florida | saw a similar case caused by
eating n crab which had been tortured
and angGrcd leforO killing"