New-York tribune., 1913-07-20
WOMAN DIES, IS ILL.,;
DUE TO CONDENSED MILK
Entire Family of Brooklyn VIC
tim AffeCted-0therS Live
in Neighborh0Od.
AUTOPSY SHOWS PTOMAINES
Coroner's Physician Condemns
Canned Cream, Though
Food Inspector Takes
Issue with Him.

Mrs. Mary Pratt, wife Of Robert F.
Pratt. a real estate dealer, died yester-
day morning at her home No. 1877
East 4Sth street, Brooklyn. and sixteen
other persons were taken i'll at the
same time, all victims Of ptomaine
poisoning. according to Coroner's Ply
sician Wuest, who performed an au-
topsy.
I'm the opinion Of the coroner's physi-
clan, Mrs. Pratts death and the illness
Of the others were the direct result Of
drinking condensed milk and evapo-
rated cream. Only the families in
which these timed goods were used
were affected. OF the seventeen cases,
seven were in the family Of Mrs. Pratt.
The only one of the family not affected
was Florence, her daughter, twenty one
years old. who had not used the milk.
Dr. Petit. who attended all the
family, said yesterday that at first he
believed impure water was the cause.
The water was analyzed and found
pure. Then it was thought that bad
food might have been the cause, but
when Dr. Petit was called upon to at
tend other families in the neighborhood
he found that these families also used
the condensed milk. and that those who
did not use it were not affected.
Mrs. Pratt who had recently returned
from a hospital became i'll more than a
week ago. She at first suffered from
stomach trouble, anemia, vomiting,
dizziness, gastral and intestinal irrita-
tion and wished to drink great quanti-
ties Of water She grew better, but
on Friday had a relapse and died yes
terday.
Soon after Mrs. Pratt became i'll. her
ten-year-old son, Edward. also COM
planned Of the same symptoms. Then
her son, Harry, fourteen; Mr.. Pratt,
Gussie, sixteen; Mrs. Mary Smith and
Mrs. Rose Rylander, her guests. became
i'll, until the home had the appearance
Of a hospital. All but Mrs. Pratt re-
covered. but all are still weak.
The other cases are near the home
Of the Pratts. in 4Sth and 10Th streets.
All are children, and Dr. Petit would
not give their names.
DIR, Petit reported the cases to the
Brooklyn Office Of the Board Of Health
Thursday, before Mrs. Pratt died. At
first attention was directed to the
water supply by DR.. John II. Barry,
assistant sanitary superintendent Of
Brooklyn and Queens. The water is
from the Ridgewood Reservoir, which
is analyzed regularly by the Depart
ment Of Health. No traces Of typhoid
or other disease were found in the
water.
When Mrs. Pratts death was re-
ported. DR.. Barry assigned DR.. Doolit-
tie, division inspector Of food, to in
vestigate. Late yesterday afternoon it
was stated that efforts were being made
10 find where the condensed milk had
been bought. and the contents remain
Ing in the cans have been taken for
chemical analysis.
Dr. Barry, however, insisted that ac-
cording TO the report made to him by
Or. Doolittle, Mrs. Pratt died from
heart failure, and that the theory of
ptomaine poisoning from the con-
densed milk had been exploded. He did
not explain why others in the family
were in. but it was suggested that the
inspectors report had been made 10
e
users in the neighborhood.