EXTRAORDINARY POISONING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2126, 15 January 1880, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY POISONING.

An extraordinary case of poisoning has justhappened in one of the surburbs, which may not be without a moral. Some members of a family having been united at Christmas-time after a long separation sent out for a couple of bottles of ale in order to properly celebrate the meeting and the season. The ale was obtained froih the nearest grocer’s shop, and duly served round. Two of the company, more thirsty than the rest, raised their glasses and swallowed a mouthful, but it was [so bitter that they did not care to proceed

further, and . the-. con viviality' was checked. Before many minutes'had elapsed the two men who had partaken of the ale were suddenly taken ill, and were speedily rolling on the floor in a proxysm of pain; They were carried to the Alfred Hospital and underwent a quarter of an hour’s treatment for poisoning, which, in Itself, is nearly as bad .as ,h,anging. ; The doctors Anally declared the symptoms to be those of poisoning by strychnine, and had the men not received prompt attention it would have been all over with them. The men are better now, but as the ale in was' that of a popular Melbourne brewery, the alarm that has spread through all ranks of the community can scarcely be conceived. It is amusing to, hear with what expressions of alarm confirmed beer-drinkers learn that strychnine is an active principal in bitter beer, and it is sad to find that many professed teetotallers display an evident anxiety in ascertaining the per cent of strychnine to the bottle, and calculating how many grains they have swallowed since taking the pledge.—“ Melbourne Telegraph.”