ECHO OF TRAGEDY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4495, 24 November 1922, Page 3

ECHO OF TRAGEDY.

SCOTLAND FOOD POISONING CASE MORE ABOUT BOTULISM. Thf; evidence given at the public Ihqulry into the causes of the death of eight persons at. Loch. Marce owing to eating sandwiches made of potted food paste involved far-reaching issues (States a special correspondent of the London. “Observer”). Tine utmost importance is attached by medical men to tihe results of the research-es-that have been conducted by Dr. MacFadden, the senior medical officer of the Food Section of the Ministry of Health, in co-operation with Dr, W. G. Savage, the county medical officer of. health for Somersets|hire, apd Mr Bruce White, at the apthological laboratories of the University of BristolFrom the point of view of medical science it is regarded as very fortunate that early last year, thanks’ largely to the foresight of Sir George Newman,. and the Medical Research Council, who strongly supported proposals to establish research into food poisons, arrangements were made for the fuller investigation of all. such cases. The machinery had already been established, and had been in running order for over .twelve months when the tragedy occurred at Loch Maree. The Scottish Boad of Health. jtossibly from motives of economy —had agreed to send all their suspected food down to Bristol, where all such, bacteriological examinations ’ are concentrated. FIRST CASE IN ENGLAND. It appears that this is the first case of botulism that has been known in this country. This unuspal variety or food poisoning has occurred occasionally in America and on the Continent, but no public health authority has ever heard of it m this country. There were so-called cases of botulism in England jn 1918, but these had nothing whatever to do with the real botulism or any form of poison, and. indeed, arc now proved to have been cases of encephalitis letihargica, The recent tragedy has,' however, provided ample evidence. On this the experts have been at work, and it m on the cards that the result of their patient study in the laboratory will be a marked advance in our knowledge of this strange and terrible attack of a bacillus that affects the ‘ nervous system, especially the brain. But long after this particular question is decided persistent inquiries’ will have to be continued, as it is well known among those who Have worked on the subject that the origins of the various forms of food poisoning, are amongst the most elusive with which science has to (leaFACTORY POSSIBILITIES. If this is a true case ftf botulism it may well be that although every possible care , was taken in the fatcory, although the materials used were apparently wholesome and pure, yet the case of one pot the fatal bacillus may have entered. It must not be overlooked, as has been done in certain ill informed comments, that the infection may 'have occurred even before the food reached the factory, or when the paste was actually aWaiting consumption. Can there be any relation between the recent cases of grass sickness that have ’occurred among horses in the Highlands, a malady indistinguishable from botulism, and • this tragedy on the Loch ? The method of entry of the bacillus, for some reason up to the present in- ' explicable, and the way protection can be provided in the future will be important point's to be raised. But there is no reason for exaggerated alarm. Science has .already proved that properly prepared canned or bottled foods are not less nutritious,, or indeed more dangerous, than fresn foods. In some cases they may have the adavntage that cooking .has’ destroyed various harmful bacteria. Further, there is no medical reason why it should be regarded as probable that the contamination of a food pa'ste, which has never happened before so far as is knowyi in this country, should necessarily happen again to an extent likely to become a serious menace to the public. The public will be relieved to know that an anti-tpxin against this particular form of food poisoning is now available.