PTOMAINE POISONING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4923, 8 January 1926, Page 2

PTOMAINE POISONING

• THE PICNIC MENACE. HOW TO AVOID IT. With the holidays comes the picnic - sea.son, and with the picnic sometimes'comes ptomaine poisoning. The Director of Health, in ,the following hints, points out how the danger can be avoided. Picnickers (and others), he slates, should beware of “blown” tins containing foods, and any canned edibles which do not taste or smell “normal,” Care should be taken always to remove tinned fish and meat from the containers immediately they have been opened. When preparing “hashes,” stews, pies, and dishes of that kind, with meats already cooked, the ingredients should be examined in order to see that they are absolutely “sound,” and hands, as well as, utensils, should be scrupulously clean. Likewise- with ice-chests and meat-s,afes. All food, of course, must be kept from contamination by flies, dust, and vermin.

You will know ptomaine poisoning by the following symptoms : Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhoea, and prostration. In severe-cases collapse may occur. Medical aid should be sought as soon as possible, but in the meantime the patient should be given an effective emetic, such as salt and water, or mustard and water. In cases of collapse warmth and some ; stimulant would be necessary. v -