Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-03-02
GRAVE DANGER IN
H||OOMliEE-CAhnED
VEGETABLES


Dr. F. w. Almond, state medical
adviser, at Boise, has issued his Off
cial report of the deaths of six mem
bers of the Tuttle family at Cam
bridge about a month ago, supposedly
from botulinus poisoning. The report
win be forwarded to the U. s..
public health service and also to
many other health departments in the
country which have made special re-
quests for a copy of the medical
adviser S report.
In his suggestions incorporated in
The report, DR.. Almond advises
hat the preserving of alkaline vege-
tables such as corn, greens, string
beans, beets or peas be dispensed with
until the question of local infection
of botulinus be worked out. The dis
tricts affected would be Washington
and Payette counties particularly
where instances of this disease have
occurred. The corn effected with
3otulinus which killed little Made
leine Hiatt about two weeks ago at
Yciser, was canned at payette,
MUST FOLLOW DIREoTIoNs
DR.. Almond also recommended in
MS report that anyone camniag
~ the cold pack method must
c careful to follow all directions
md also carefully read the instru.-
tions for determining whether the
product is spoiled or not
The fatal effects of the disease are
emphasized in the report which says:
4" No known method of treatment |
has been demonstrated to be of any
-alue in bOtulinus poisoning
Excerpts from the report telling of |
conditions found on the examination |
Of other canned products taken from
the futile home as well as the condi-
ton of the jar containing the fatal
green's are as follows;
"The jar which contained these
greens was washed before being sus-
pected. Other samples of canning
failed to show botulinus in ordinary
laboratory tests, there being no action
whatsoever on guinea pigs.
'The tomatoes and string beans
were of an inferior quality and showed
bacterial growth because of the pro-
duct not being properly sterilized. On
one or two of the jars the covers
were not firmly fastened. In the bot
tom of the jar of the string beans
there was white precipitate which
is always an indication of spoilage.
GREENS WE'RE SHINY
con removing the lid of the greens
there was an apparent burst of pun
gent carbon monoxide smelly odor
which was very transient, disappear
ng within three minutes, thus show
ng the necessity of examining Jars
green's as soon as the lid
s removed. The texture of the green's !
vas Shiny and soft.
"The statement is made that these +
sreens were boiled for fifteen or TWEEN
Y minutes before serving and seasoned
With butter, salt and pepper. Under
rdinary circumstances the toxine of q
'Otulism is supposed to be DESTROYED +
" five minutes boiling This brings a
p an important point as to whether n
he greens were actually boiled OF c
ust simmering. h
"Any of the products examined by i
5 in the laboratory would not have d
cen used if examined before using b
nth the exception of the corn" d
CANNING HINTS GIVEN c
The greatest of care should be e.
in canning any product, i
IF. Almond says, and gives the b
blowing hints which, if followed, n
i'll insure safe food. He says: Il
!. See that the product is firm and =
good condition. y
2. See that all utensils used in can
ing are absolutely clean. II
3. See that the temperatures and :,
ressures ais recommended are actu- Il
ly attained. If ANYTHING, it is wise
be on the safe side by overlooking.
4. AT frequent intervals during the
onths following the preserving it is es
lvisable to examine the product TO SC
e if the caps are tight, and if there pl
any indication of gas escaping, de- u
roy the product.
5. All products that show indfca- 10
ons of spoilage should be burned,
cause if thrown out on the ground Tn