The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11

| animal. The intensity Of the poison de-
ponds somewhat on the locality in which
the animal has lived and fed. The same
mussels may have become non-toxic II
different waters.
at sometimes happens that flesh becomes
poisonous from the animal having fed upon
| noxious substances shortly before II was
killed. The flesh Of pigs fed on garbage
NAV cause diarrhoea. The flavor and diges-
| :ibiIity of game and even fish varies much
with the season of the year and the conse.
uuent nature of the food which the animal
| has had. Cows milk becomes unhealthy
for infants when the animal eats improper
| food. md instances have been recorded
I-although fortunately. they are very
oxceptional-of illness Of adults caused by
eating meat which had been poisoned dur
ing the animals life, as in the case OF
sick OK to which a large dose OF tartar
| emetic was given. The animal died, ana
| the meat subsequently was found to con-
tain enough of the substance to severely
poison those who ate it, Game sometimes
disaprees on account of the nature OF the
| food upon which the animal has previously
been living. This is said to be particular
| ly true of the grouse in various parts OF
the country in some seasons OF the year.
"Old unripe grain and moldy flour de-
yelop poisons from decomposition OF their
gluten. The fungus known as ergot grows
| upon rye and in Europe the careless ad-
! mixture OF this substance with grain in the
preparation of -four has several times re-
suited in violent symptoms of poisoning.
| The -four containing ergot or the meal must
have been eaten for a considerable time, as
rule. in order to develop the symptoms
Regarding the symptoms of meat poison
| ing. DR.. Thompson, Prof. William Osler,
| Fellow Of the Royal College of Physicians,
London professor Of medicine in Johns
Hopkins University. and professor of clyn-
| ical medicine in the University of Pennsyl-
yania. and other well-known authorities
appear to agree that the symptoms are sub
| stantially the same in each case. These
symptoms may follow almost Immediately
or after an interval of several days. The
| former is much the better for the patient.
because the sooner the alimentary canal
| is relieved from the poisonous material by
vomiting and diarrhoea the greater the
chance OF recovery. In the majority of
| cases there is latent period of twelve to
| thirty-six hours between the taking of the
| tainted food and the development OF the
symptoms Ballard found that. in observ-
| ing flfty-one CAGES Of meat poisoning a pc
riod Of twelve hours elapsed in five of the
cases before the symptoms developed. In
| thirty four cases between twelve and thir-
| ty-six hours elapsed. and in eight cases
between thrty-six and forty-eight hours
| elapsed. There were only four of these
| ffty-one cases in which 1t took longer
period than forty-eight hours for the
symptoms to develop.
toms usually develop suddenly and with
| violence, but occasionally the develop
ment is preceded with an indefinite I'M
| easiness on the part of the patient nau-
sea. lassitude and abdominal cramps.
When the symptoms develop suddenly.
they are preceded by rigors with vertigo
or faintness ora yiulent headache Some
times there is great difficulty in breathing
and there may be loold perspirat ton and
sudden severe pains In the upper a5do-
men or in the thorax. especially between
the shoulders. Intense thirst has also
been observed. Soon after one or more
of these symptoms have appeared there
is violent colicky pain in the bowels, ac-
companied by nausea. retching and yom-
itins. There is an extreme degree of
muscular prostration, which comes on
suddenly and prevents the patient from
standing This may be due to the alb
dominal pain. but 1t also occurs indie
pendently. The tongue is dry aud coated
with thick brownish- yellow fur in the
middle. but the margins are of a bright
red with distinct minute nipple-like pro-
jections. Fever is usually present, pni
The temperature may rise to 1855 degrees
or 1Gi degrees Fahrenheit. although the
skin may feel cold and moist. The pulse
is somewhat accelerated and the rate may
reach $50 or l40
Occasional symptoms. which have been
noted by Ballard, according to Dr.
Thompson. are severe cramps In the legs
and arms. convulsive twitching of the