Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-18
WHITING POISONING CASE.
Findings Of tho Director and BactcriO-
logist of the state Laboratory of

an article embodying the report of the
case Of poisoning from diseased pork,
which occurred in Whiting last Decem-
Der and which resulted in the death
Of Station Agent +. c. Brown, his wife
and their son. The case was reported
by the two physicians who were in at
tendance and by NJ. J. Wiltse, director.
and DR.. b. II. Stone, bacteriologist of
the State Laboratory of Hygiene. The
case attracted much attention at the time
and even now the report of the findings
will be of interest.
There were six people affected, the
three members of the Brown family,
the Rev. Mr.. Jones, Mrs. Worcester
and DR.. D. b. Colby, one of the attend
ing physicians. The last three ate one
meal with the Brown family and then
but sparingy of the meat served. Their
symptoms were the same as those of the
Brown family, but less severe and recov-
cry was rapid for the reason of the small
amount consumed. The Brown family
had been eating of the pork In question
in the form of sausage, headcheese, roast
pork. etc, for several days and COM
planned more or less prior to calling a
physician. At no time during the afflic-
ton did the blood of the patients give
the slightest Vidal reaction. Mrs Brown
was the first to succumb to the condi-
ton. The physicians were allowed an
autopsy. from which parts of the organs
were sent to the laboratory for exam
nation The time lapsing prior to the
microscopial examination of these tissues
allowed for some considerable post-mor-
TEN change. so that 1t was impossible
to state further than there there was a
marked congestion throughout the liver,
spleen and kidneys. The stomach showed
In its entirety pin-head spots apparently
on the point of liberation. These points
were found to contain a bacterium. The
entire intestinal tract showed much ul-
ceration. The liver showed many areas
containing an organism as we'll as a
marked degeneration of the liver cells.
We are unable to culture the organism
from these materials for the reason of
formaldehyde being present. We were
convinced, however, that the organism
found was the cause Of the trouble There
was no autopsy allowed upon the child
but by request the director Of the lab
oratory was allowed partial examina-
ton Of the father, who died some three
weeks after the first symptoms. Follow
ing are the findings: Body much ENACT
ated no skin eruption present. Abdorn.
inal cavity showed slight Inflammation ot
the peritoneum. Liver apparently con.
Cested: gall bladder full kidneys and
spleen apparently normal. Upon section
ing liver kidneys, and spleen
showed congestion) stomach and
|
condition is in the case Of Mrs Brown
save that the liberation throughout the
rectum was greater. Thoracic cavity
heart apparently normal mot allowed
to remove and examined: lungs showed
marked congestion upon sectioninC, the
organism mentioned was found through
| ouD. Cultures from these materials were
impossible as the body had been en-
balmcd prior to the autopsy
After repeated attemptS IN isolate ar
organism corresponding to the one founf
in the liver Of Mrs, Brown. one was fin
ally Isolated from n broth infusion n
some head-cheeso made from tho sus
pocted pork. This organism was
streptothrix. presenting an aproararcc
when stained by Grams method. which
is strikingly similar TO tho liver organ
ism. This organism has been studied
and n brief description will be give,
below II stains with water dyes. Loot
fer's solution. and by Grams method
and whom prepared from agar or BLOOD
serum and so stained presents n strlt
ing picture, comparable to n bunch n
threads in n close-mixed snarl Thos
threads may be snon to branch NJ RICH
angles. and when stained by Cram
method and counter stained by bismarck
brown, take both stains A thread vii
stain for a certain distance with tn
blue black NJ Grams and then abruptl,
from this point on bismarck brown
These lines Of demarcation are exceed
ngly pronounced. Other thread
stain either all black or all brown
and often a brown thread Is seen runnin
parallel to black ono. presenting IN
appearance NJ a shadow In general. t
will he noticed that the central rortio
of A thread takes the blue black Will
tho ends take the brown stain Thi
streptothrix is n-motile, non-incaps,I
lated and does not show spores who
grown In artificial media. although w
suspect spores are sometimes formed 7
grows best NJ q degrees O. hut onl
: less vigorously at % degrees. It's therma
death point Is between n degrees an
IN degrees e. It only grows in tn
presence Of Oxygen.
The organism grows we'll on agar, ar
rearing at about forty eight hours a
pin point colonies. These points fnall
coalesce and cover n large part of tn
surface NJ tho media The growth OK
tends somewhat into the medium and
exceedingly tenacious, and It Is only wit
great difficulty that piece can be tor
off without stripping the entire growt
off the surface Of the medium. cha,
acteristic Of its growth on all solid medi
a is the production after eight or ton day
. If chalky deposit around tho margl
: Of tho growth This finally covers III
q istics of the growth are as follows: Ma,
: gin, entire: surface relief. capitate an
, smooth; light transmission. oleagnou,
q light reflection. porcellanoous; colo
= white: lustre. glistening.
In gelatin growth occurs through tr
q entire length Of the needle tract Tt
= media Is liquifed slowly In n cratifor,
r shape after nine days. The deep growt
. is beaded.
" On blood serum the growth IL ut fir,
y similar to that on agar but after
" time, the medium begins 10 soften an
" tho surface becomes Shiny and mois
M The growth In bouillon and glucose bout
y Ion Is very characteristic growing
y, " small pin-hoad tufts, which are real
", w tanrles Of the thread, These bunch,
~ are entirely separate from each 9th,
~ and resemble tho catkins on q puss,
No willow tree They settle to the botto
NJ Of n fuid. There Is no production Of G,
~ or hypodermically to n guinea pig (,
* only symptoms produced nre gradu
~ loss Of weight, the animal inoculate 10
~ ing one-cehth OF his weight In six week
20 No gross pathogenic LESSONS were di
an covered, and as yet we have not su
a. ceeded In isolating the organism fro
20 the animal
m We are inclined to think that the pre-
* ence Of this organism In tissues Of Il
m patient and in the pork is more than
IL coincidence, although the animal expel
az ments are as vet disappointing. The p
GO tents all had symptoms suggesting
co slow toxaemia The only pathoger
IS streptothracae concerning which an
% toms Of this sort, although with great
a nj quit NJ