Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-16
ID POISONED BY
MILK SERVED AT
REDONDO BEACH
MANY VICTIMS NEARLY KILLED
BY IMPURITIES
ICE CREAM ALSO BELIEVED TO
HAVE CONTAINED GERMS
Gases Scattered and Symptoms Differ.
Health Authorities Are Un-
able to Fix the
Blame

Redondo Beach residents are boiling
their milk and water now, following a
ptomaine poisoning scare that kept
fourteen persons In bed most of the
week. There were others only slightly
affected.
DIR. d. r. Hancock, city health officer,
and Dr. L. II. Mcmillan have been busy
all week with patients whose symptoms
are so much alike that DIR. Hancock Is
inclined to believe that drinking milk
last Friday night at a beach restaurant
started the epidemic of poisoning. Tne
resort is much patroniZed by beach res
idents, who sip ice cold milk, ana most
of the patients say they drank milk
there.
On the other hand, several cases OF
poisoning occurred among persons VINO
did not eat at this particular lunch
room, one being that of Mr.. and Mrs
Dunn, who partook OF Ice cream else
where. 1t is pointed out, however. that
the cream from which the Ice cream
was made may have come from COM
mon source. DIR. Hancock says possibly
some cows ate a poisonous weed In
grazing. thus causing acute milk in
fection.
MIX or Water
The theory has also been advanced
that the citys water supply may have
become contaminated.
James Burdick, a cook. who with his
wife became very sick, says he noticed
last Friday that water running from
the faucet mad a reddish appearance.
He let the stream run for some time,
after which the water took on more
normal appearance.
The restaurant people say the milk
was bought from local dairymen. one
gets his milk from Ocean Park mainly,
and exhibited a certificate of analysis
on the day the milk went to Redondo
Beach. showing it chemically TO be OF
high grade and purity. The other man
has his own herd and says he, his fam
lily and others partook of the milk ana
felt no Ill effects.
All the drug stores in Redondo Beach
had a big demand for remedies during
the week, and some of the patients suf-
fered so much pain that hypodermic
pain.
The most seriously i'll were L. NJ. and
Cleveland Hoansler, brothers who own
a buildinr in which they conduct
pool room. Both men have been re-
duced In flesh and greatly emaciated
by their spell.
Mr. and Mrs. James Burdick were
also affected painfully by the epimedic.
John Hiss and his sister Emma par
took of milk and pie only to regret II.
Charles Dosta, a pile driver, William
Brandon and several friends were made
i'll, the friends escaping by drinking
their coffee black.
Albert Iichty has such a rugged con-
stitution that he did not suffer as much
as the others.
Henry Haynes was treated by Dr.
Hancock for the same trouble, but ne
had not been in the restaurant at all.
s Neither had Mr.. and Mrs. A. B. Dunn.
who were attacked with pains after
hating Ice cream.
A Spanish boy living back from the
beach nearly died from the attack he
had. but DIR. Hancock finally brought
him around.
DIR. Metzger. dentist. who has Offices
with DIR. Hancock, was similarly af-
fected. but says he did not eat at the
restaurant In question.
Cows Ate Weeds
1--WE can't determine what started the
outbreak, though we think 1t was the
milk" said Health officer Hancock last
night.
'.Ptomaines are any one Of the active,
inainmate, septic or toxic substances
resulting from the processes of decom-
position and disintegration OF albumin
Gus matter. These pto are not all
harmful, and II Is hard to tell which
caused the present trouble. 1t has been
suggested that preservatives may have
been used in the milk.
THE fact that the outbreak was not
confined to those who partook of milk
at the one restaurant. and that bowel
troubles have been quite prevalent here
for a week, make the case unusual.
II am inclined to think that some
novious weeds eaten by the cows in
fected the milk. but there may be other
causes. In treating the patients of
course we tried first to eliminate the
toxic substances and then restore the
strength of the patients. did not give
opiates internally, fearing the effects,
but did administer a few hypodermics.
1--WE are very glad that no one suc-
c1Imhed to the attack at any rate"