TEN PERSONS POISONED THROUGH EATING EELS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 22, 24 June 1871, Page 15

TEN PERSONS POISONED THROUGH EATING EELS.

[New Zealand Herald.] We have several times had occasion to speak of the danger attending a too free consumption of native eels, especially those of a size, and we have now to chronicle an event that cannot be too carefully remembered by those who are in the habit of partaking of these fish. Three days ago, some boys who were on the beach near Freeman’s Bay, made a great capture of eels, which they caught underneath the rocks when the tide was out. These they did up into bundles, and sold in the neighborhood. Among those who purchased were Mr Slattery, the grocer, Mr Sullen, the baker, Mr Jakins, and Mr Stow. The next day those who had partaken of the fish were seized with most alarming symptoms. Their bodies began to swell, and became covered with blotches, and their eyes started fiom their sockets. In the house of Mr Slattery, no less than four of the family were attacked at the same time. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, the sufferers were seized with a violent and painful retching. Of Mr Sullen’s family no less than five were affected in the same way, as well as a young woman who partook of the eels with the family. The remedies prescribed were those usually applied in such cases, and the patients were all caused to vomit. They are now getting better, but for two days they suffered very severely, and will not soon forget their feast of eels. AMr Stow had prepared a dish of the deleterious fish for breakfast, but hearing how his neighbors had been served, he very wisely abstained from eating them, and gave the prepared eels to his cat and dog, thinking they would do them no harm ; but they seem to have suffered even worse than the human beings. We have heard nothing that can in any way account for the deleterious quality of these eels, except that some poison is laid for dogs in Campbell’s paddock, and it is supposed that some dog after being poisoned may have been thrown into the water, and eaten by the fish in question, which were caught close to Campbell’s reef. But, whatever the cause, we venture to say that the inhabitants of Freeman’s Bay will he very chary in future how they partake of stewed eels Only a few weeks ago Mr Howard, of the theatre, was laid up for a week through dining off these so called savory fish, and it is only a few days since we warned the public against eating them.