Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-21
pToMAINE POISONING.
Products az decomposition In Tain
TED Food which Threaten Hu-
man Life.


In these days, when preserved pro-
visions are being so largely manufac-
tured to meet the equally large de-
mand for such articles of diet, and
when, by the aid Of the refrigerator,
we are supplied with meat all the way
from the antipodes, we find that we
have a new danger 20 face. This Is the
liability, owing to accident or neglect
during the preserving process or dur
Ing transit, Of the food changing for
the worse, or, as we say, going bad"
Unfortunately, such tainted food is
not readily detected, and the uncon-
scious consumer is, therefore, open 10
the risk of being unawares seriously or
fatally poisoned.
Tainted food contains the products
OF decomposition which are technical
IN known as ptomaines. Beyond the
fact that some of these ptomaines are
highly poisonous, very little else Is
known about them. They are stlll the
subject of investigation, and so far we
are only able to gather that ptomaines
are allxaloidal in character, and are
the active principles of animal tissue
In the same way as such alkaloids as
quinine and other similar drugs are
the active principles OF the cinchona
and other plants.
The symptoms OF ptomaine poison
ing may be acute, or they may be
vague and underlined. When acute, the
symptoms usually set in a few hours
after partaking of the tainted food.
The patient complains Of nausea, or
feels faint. Headache usually accom-
panies the nausea, which terminates
in 1T or Ats of vomiting. This sick
ness Is often very violent and uncon-
trollable. The patient complains Of
/ great pain in the abdomen, and moth
/ Ing appears TO relieve this distressing
evmptom Meantime the temperature
and pulse rise, and all the symptoms
increase IN intensity. Distressing
retching takes the place OF sickness,
and not infrequenty the patients
aspect Is that Of one In great agony,
But every one of these symptoms may
differ in quality and intensity in diff
ferent eases. so that Il Is only the eN.
perienced eye that can, from a survey
OF the whole symptoms, recognize the
case as one OF evident ptomaino poi
soning.
Sometimes this poisoning Is slow
the symptoms are not violent; the pa.
tient complains Of lnssitude and weak
ness. There Is also loss OF appetite
and In consequence the patient gets
rapidly weaker. In few days rasl
may break out over the body Tn,
character Of this rnsh varies, and 81
usually o source Of much indecision az
10 the real cause of tho Illness. Otter
hois break out on the fhre and neck
aud This in an adult ought to indicate
probable poisoning OF some sort. No
infrequently ptomaine poisoning from
the outset shows no other symptom
than that of loss ~ strength. followel
slowly by loss If consciousness, dc
/ lirium and death. As a rule. the rem
cause OF such slower cases Is not rex
ognized They occur among the poor
and especially among those given I
intcmperance and loafng Such ind
viduals arc not overcareful what the
eat TO satisfy the craving for hunger
and therefore frequently fall victim
TO this poison. Very little care istukei
to discover. or. rather 20 trace III
cause OF illness in such people II !
not unnnturally put down to the vic
TINS bad habits and Incorporate liz
ing.-Household Words.