POISONOUS CARAMELS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8738, 12 February 1907, Page 3

POISONOUS CARAMELS.

Per Press Association. Wellington, February 11. Charles Henry Jones, manager of tiro Diamond Confectionery Coy., of Wellington, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day with having, on November I t; in his possession 57G tins of condensed milk for the purpose of preparation for sale for human consumption. The proceedings were taken by the Department of Public Health. Tire district health officer deposed that the majority of tins wore ‘‘blown” and some had burst, giving out an offensive smell. The milk was unfit for human consumption. Eating anything made from it would bo attended with serious consequences, especially in the case of young'children. He had proved the presence of anaerobic bacteria in the milk. These produced poisons generally known as ptomaines—and no amount of cooking would kill these ptomaines. Ho did not find the poison. He presumed the existence of the poison from the presence of the bacteria. If the whole thing was put into a furnace, the poison might be destroyed. He could not say that the poison was there; because, to prove its presence, he would have had to experiment on human beings, and no one volunteered. (Laughter.) Corroborative evidence was given by Drs James and Hector. The defendant stated that he had seen milk used in England in a much worse condition than that.ho had in his factory. He knew fermentation was present in the bulged tins, but had believed that the high temperature of 260d0g., to which the milk was subjected, destroyed any genus. The milk was used for caramel toffee. Defendant was fined £5 and ordered to pay Jill 17a 6d costs, and the Court directed that the milk should be destroyed. Defendant, on leaving the Court, exclaimed that the effect of this would bo to drive him out of the country. Ho denounced the manner in which the country was overrun by inspectors, who nearly worried him to death.