Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-27

people were characteristic of, I, acute
indigestion; 2, cholera morbus; 3,
Asiatic cholera; 4, ptomaine poisoning;
4, arsenical poisoning. Asiatic cholera
in the country and this trouble was
not contagious. Arsenica1 poisoning
is also eliminated by the results of the
chemical analysis. The trouble in
some cases was very severe and long
lasting and did not come on soon
enough in others to point clearly to
either acute indigestion or cholera
morbus, so-called.
However, if the trouble was pto-
maine poisoning from the pies it is
difficult to reconcile the facts that
probably as many ate the pies who
were not sick as were affected, and
furthermore I find several were sick
at that time with identical symptoms
who had nothing to eat from Gavitt's
place. Some ate the pies each day
as long as they lasted and were not
sick.
Ptomaine Poison.
Ptomaine poison Is no respecter of
persons or places and may appear in
milk, meat or fish any time, unawares,
and not be suspected until its i'll eff
fects are manifested. The best hotels
and private families often suffer from
tit. Its presence cannot be detected
either by appearance like mold, nor
by the odor or taste, as would be the
case if the food had soured. 1t Is one
of the hardest poisons to find by the
bacteriologist. One writer says that
'in an affected mass of 200 pounds
enough could not be isolated to make
a test with"
Yale Experts Investigations.
DR. Jenkins, director of the Expert
ment station. has detailed Professor
Roettger of Yale university to con-
tinue the search for ptomaine poison
ing. Professor Roettger came to this
town July 81 and looked over the res
taurant and spent the entire day in
getting data from which to continue
his work. Professor Roettger was for
tunate in getting an invitation to wit
ness the post mortem examination of
Horace RodInan at Ashaway, r. l.,
who was a so-called pie victim and
had died that morning.
Should Professor Roettger isolate
possession it viii go long way to
substantiate the theory of ptomaine
poison.
I have done all could to find the
cause of the late trouble, interviewed
most of the physicians who attended
the sick and been in daily commu-
nication with the chemists at New Ha-
ven, as well as taken counsel of the,
county health officer, the county cor
oner and my own private attorney as
to my rights and duties in the mat
ter.
MIR. Gavitt Ready to Help.
wish to say that all have been
very kind to me and have done all in
their power to help in my investiga-
ton. Mr.. Gavitt, while under the ban
Of suspicion by thoughtless people, has
always been courteous and willing to
furnish all the information possible.
Perhaps the report of Professor
work as state bacteriologist and the
report Of Professor Roettger will throw
more light upon the subject. Until
then, at least, the matter will Continue
to be uncertain. in my mind.
Report Of Providence Professors.
Following Is the formal report of
Professors STREET. and Morrison of the
chemical analysis:
The Connecticut Agricultural Exper-
iment Station
New Haven, Conn, July "a, 1918,
DR.. @. =. .Congdon, Health Ohcer,
Mystic, Conn.
Dear Sir: In response TO your let
tens OF July e2nd end 23rd, we submit
1.-THE following summary Of our results
from the examination Of the materials
sent by you to Prof. Conn and by him
forwarded to uss samples Of materials
incident to your investigation Of the
Gavitt restaurants so-eal1ed "pte-
maine poisoning cases In westerly,
and Stonington, and also the stomach
contents from one of the Brightmau
cases; Frapcis z. Brightmaa OF Stonr
tngton1 sent by DIR, H. c. Little at
your request,
The insecticides.
I, mo Bug Formacone Co., New
| ark, N. J. This Is liquid prepare
ton containing phenol compounds dis
solved In light hydro carbon oil. 1t
contains no aEsenie or heavy metals
| D. Jaynes Magic Insect Powder.
It contains no arsenic or heavy metals
| This is a pyFethrum powder.
Materials used in the preparation
| Of the eustarq piess !. Sugar. not
chemically examined. g, nutmeg. not
chemically examined$ 3, cocoanuf, not
chemically examined. These aSpeaF
TO be normal and were not sexaminkd
chemically. 4. Flour and dough or
-four and unba1ed pie crust; this con-
tains no arsenic or heavy metals. 3.
Aerolene. Edible Products Co, Bay
onne. N. ]. This contains no arsenic
The custard Pie.
This sample when received was sour
and badly fermented. No arsenic or
heavy metals were found. No poison
Gus alka1oids or other organic conn
pQlnaS ref2lnq. We Were unable