Wholesale Poisoning.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 2 January 1892, Page 2

Wholesale Poisoning.

On Friday last (Christmas Day) Mr W. J. Sedcole, of Pahiatua, was married to Miss Naylor, of the same township, and a large number of guests — nearly thirty in all — were* invited to partake of the wedding breakfast. A number of the guests, however, remained in the house of the bride's father, and on the after- 5 noon of the following day (Saturday) partook of refreshments slightly different to those used at the wedding breakfast. Ail went merry as a marriage bell until early on the Sunday morning, when the whole of the guests on Saturday were attacked by intense vomiting, abdominal pains, frightful purging cramps, and a peculiar taste in the mouth. As the symptoms appeared to be those of poisoning, the police, sent to Woodville for a doctor and on his arrival Dr Davenport discovei'ed strong symptoms of arsenical poisoning and administered emetics, which afforded temporary relief to several. The poison had, however, by this time got a good hold of the systems of its victims, the jaws of some of whom became quite rigid. On Tuesday morning the most alarming symptoms presenting themselves. Dr Hosking was sent for and arrived in Pahiatua about 9 He first visited Mrs Peter Dickson, of Master ton, .and found her in a serious condition, convulsions having set in. He did all that was in his power to afford relief, and was called immediately afterwards to the bedside of Mr Dickson, whom he found in a dying condition. He was quite unconscious, and. had tetanic convulsions. The doctor had been in the room only a few minutes when the unfortunate victim gave a convulsive gasp and died. Dr Hosking then proceeded to the house of Mr Joseph Moore, of Rock Road, whom he found perfectly rigid, having died about half an hour previously. Mrs Moore and several children were still suffering, and everything possible was done to relieve them. Although only two deaths had occurred when Dr Hosking left, most of the victims are in a serious condition. The names of the persona still prostrate are— Mr E. Naylor and wife, Arthur Naylor, ' Leonard i Naylor, William Naylor, W. Sedcole, R. Sedcole, E. Alliston, London (2), i Mr Samuel Naylor, wife and two ; ch'ldren, Mrs P. Dickson and son, Mrs Joseph Moore and family (5), j and J. Britland. The whole i of those who were present j on Saturday, however (with the ; exception of the bride, who, fortunately, at-o nothing), have been ] attacked. The doctor is of opinion \ that the arsenic must have found its | way into some of the confectionery j in mistake for baking soda. _ i It is now reported in Pahiatua , that the calamity ia the result of a < practical joke, some person having < mized oxalic acid with the food, \ thinking it was Epsom salts.

* ( THERE IS ONE THING every house- , wife should know, and that is— Hercules i Bakihq Powder is the best. Why ? ILjis the cheapest becans • it is the best for ] making bread, pastry, cakes, puddings, i scones, &c. In Gd and Is tins. . . ( IF YOU WOULD LIVE LONG and \ prosper drink good Coffee. It maketh the ] heart glad, keepeth the brain clear and helpeth digestion. Be sure and ask for f Crease's Al Coffee. So d only in 1 and 2 <■ lb tins. I c AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN says if the C public would drink less tea and more Coffee t there would be a great many less sufferers fl from that, troublesome < ompkint—indigesti n. Creaseß \ 1 Coffee is tb.B best. Sold * only in 1 and 2 logins. c