Evening star., 1932-07-22
Devi|ed Egg Salad Believed
Cause of Ptomaine Attack
at Dairy Outing.
HOSPITALS OVERTAXED
AMID EXCITED SCENES
Ambulances, Patrols and Autos
Rush to Steamer Carrying Victims.
B. E. F. Members Stricken.

Health Department officials today
were making an intensive investigation
OF an outbreak OF ptomaine poisoning
that sent approximately 400 persons,
including 25 members of the Bonus Ex-
pedltlonary Force, TO hospitals last
night following a picnic held at Mar
shall Hall by employees of the Chevy
Chase and Chestnut Farms Diaries.
Specimens of the food eaten on the
outlng-some of which was turned over
to the veterans when the dairy work.
ers found they had an oversupply-
was being analyzed by Health Depart
ment bacteriologists. Analyses also
we're being made of the contents of the
stomachs of some of the poison victims.
Hospitals Taxed.
After a night during which half a
dozen hospitals were taxed to the limit
BY an unprecedented rush, most Of the
ptomaine victims had recovered sufi-
GENTLY to be permitted to return to
their homes. BY noon today the hos
pitfalls had discharged all but about
so of the tainted food victims, and more
were expected to be sent home during
the course of the day. No deaths were
considered likely
DR.. William Fowler, District health
oftcer. ordered the investigation to de-
termlne the cause of the outbreak a
short time after the Mount Vernon and
Marshall Hall Steamboat Co. excursion
boat Charles Manchester pulled into the
Seventh Street Wharf with the 400 i'll
nicnickerS ahna iCh
He assigned his assistant, DR.. Ed
ward J. Schwartz, and DR.. John E
Noble, Health Department bacteriolo-
glst, to make the Investigation.
Dairy Officials Silent.
Though officials Of the dairies de-
clined to issue any statement regarding
the case, DR.. Schwartz announced -
| had been informed the food had been
prepared in the Chestnut Farms plant
Il intend to trace the food as faS
i back as possible" Dr. Schwartz de-
clared today. I'VE want to find out not
! only who prepared it and under what
! circumstances. but also where it came
from originally"
This Investigation, together with the
analysis, will require two or three
days at the least" DR.. Schwartz said
Meanwhile, he said Health Department
physicians plan to question victims as
to what they ate Until the inquiry Is
completed. he added. all the food is
under suspicion" Deviled egg salad is
regarded with the most suspicion, how
ever.
Ambulances Await Steamer.
When the steamer docked at $50
pm. every available ambulance, tc-
gether with large number of police
patrols and private automobiles, was at
the Seventh street wharf.
Running his boat close to the shore at
Alexandria. Capt. William Turner
shouted to bystanderS on the wharf.
telling them Of the plight Of his pas
sengers and asking them to notify
Washington police Immediately.
The fire rescue squad and ambulanceS
from Emergency, Casualty, Freedmens
and Navy Hospitals responded to the
alarm The vessel was sighted a short
time after the arrival of the ambulances
steaming toward the dock as rapidly as
her Wheels would carry her.
Scenes of Excitement.
Their faces drawn those passengers
we'll enough to sit up lined the decks,
while many others, more seriously i'll,
lay here and there. Cries of children.
AllGiSPClSSQ Will TIC VI dOulIS,
could be heard as the steamer pulled
into the wharf.
1t was apparent that the vehicles on
hand would not be able to convey the
sick excursionists to hospitals as quick
ly as the situation demanded and police
began communicating passing automo-
biles and taxicabs. They also called
for additional patrols, as well as other
police cars.
Physicians and nurses who had ac-
companied the ambulances Immediately
began treating the more seriously i'll.
Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered
some relatives of passengers and others
merely curious. One young woman.
who said a member of her family was
| among the passengers. became hysteri-
cal as the boat neared the wharf. She
was given emergency treatment by one
of the waiting physicians.
Cfnotchnre rarriad AhoarH