PTOMAINE POISONING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 14

PTOMAINE POISONING

CAMPERS STRICKEN PLIGHT AT WAIHEKE SEVEN BOYS AND GIRL (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Seven young men were seriously affected by ptomaine poisoning while spending the Labour Day holiday in a seaside cottage at Onelangi, Waiheke Island. A sister ol' a member of the party was also affected while visiting the cottage during the day. Had it not been for a chance visit of a St. John Ambulance Brigade officer. Mr. William Saul, the plight of the party would have been much worse, since they were nil too helpless to go for aid. Those affected were:— William Kenneth Pcet. aged 18. of Herne Bay. Desmond Watson Hurley, aged 18, of Herne Bay. William John St. Clair Mac Lardy. aged 17, of Mount Eden. Walter Bryan Stehr, aged It), of Herne Bay. Leonard James Lawrence Pasey, aged 18, of Herne Bay. Keith Murray McLean, aged IS. of Herne Bay. Patricia Mac Lardy. aged 18. of Oietangi, and one other young man. It is stated that the party had used an aluminium saucepan for poaching eggs on Sunday night. Yesterday the same saucepan was used for boiling spaghetti. It was while eating this that, every member of the party became violently ill. None was able to leave the cottage to seek assistance and m® member of the party had any first aid knowledge. Mr. Saul arrived at tile cottage on a chance visit not long after the party had been affected. He worked strenuously. single-handed, to relieve their suffering and last night all those affected paid him a high tribute for the way he had helped them. All the young men intended returning to Auckland last night, but they were too ill to travel and were not expected to reach tiie city until some time this afternoon. Pect was most seriously affected and he is still unable to leave his bed.