Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-15

not been called to atteud any patients
for poison in connection with the re-
cent epidemic. The first he knew OF
tho cases was ON the 8th OF July. when
he read OF the death OF MIR. and Mrs.
Brightman. As medical examiner he
made his reports and gave them to
Coroner Brown, giving his opinion
that deaths we're due to ptomaine pois-
oning. No autopsy was made, but he
did make q, superficial examination.
The body of Mr.. Brightnan was em-
ba1med before the medical examiner
had been notified OF the death. The
body Of Mrs. Brightman was not en-
balmed when he heard of her death.
but had been embalmed before Coroner
Brown arrived, and then. autopsy was
the coroner he could not have per-
formed an autopsy within So hours
after death. He saw no symptoms OF
poison from q superficial examination.
An autopsy would have disclosed
metalepoison but not ptomaine poison
poison it cannot be determined by
chemical analysis long after death. Had
he been advised of the death he would
have suggested an autopsy. The fam
tly. however Zone OF the sons). made
declaration that no autopsy would be
permitted, coroner or no coroner. He
was in doubt whether the causes of
death were from mineral or vegetable
poison, and an autopsy would have
disclosed any mineral poison
First Thought Il Was chowder.
DR.. Michael III. Scanlon OF Westerly,
practicing physician for 10 years, had
some experience with poisoning cases
and is medical examiner for the First
Rhode Island district. He had been
called upon to attend several Of the
recent poison cases. The f1rst case was
Mr.. Arant on the morning of the 9Th of
July. He told of the symptoms and
since then Arant complained of pain in
the legs and eyes and is still very
sick. He ate clam chowder, custard
pie and drank milk, and at that time
he attributed the poison to chowder.
as it was the first case reported. Mr..
Gavitt was the next patient and he said
he had eaten a piece of lemon pie. The
doctor was then called to the White
Rock cases IN consultation with DR..
May and he at once advised MIR. Gavttt
to sell no more pies. He investigated
and found that only those who ate
crust of the pie had been poisoned and
was satisfied that the poison was in the
pie crust. He took samples Of the pie
and all ingredients used in the making
of the pies. He took no samples Of
baking powder. The samples were
sent to Providence for analysis and he
was of opinion that the Psychologists
would have disclosures to make in the
I1CrLE 40lQIGs G1O QC14O1111C4 Lie e14lOpSy
on the body OF Patrick Sullivan and
he was assisted by Drs. May and Smith
and 10 Westerly physicians attended.
The autopsy was made 36 hours after
death, and a. green Shiny substance.
was found that compared with the
substance elected from other patients.
Could form no opinion as to whether in.
this case it was arsenical or ptonaine
poison.
Thinks Pie Crust or Shortening.
He had reached no final decision, but
is of the belief the poison came from
the pie crust or the shortening ,or per-.
haps the liquid bug killer, q coal tar
product, which has a creosote taste.
The doctor testified he had tasted the
liquid, which was of a decidedly oily
substance. Mr.. Gavitt gave such sam
pies as were required and was very
anxious for investigation. DR.. Scanlon
said the restaurant was clean, so much
so that the Rhode Island investigating
authorities were willing to eat their.
dinner there on the day of -investiga-
ton.
Nothing to Indicate Arsenic.
DR.. Henry L. johnson of Westerly, a
practicing physician for two years, tes-
titled he was called to attend six pa
tients in connection with the poisoning