THE POISONED MEAT CASE. Another Death. Auckland, April 7.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 April 1887, Page 5

THE POISONED MEAT CASE. Another Death. Auckland, April 7.

Reference Jias already been mado in oar columns to the case of wholesale poieoning from eating preeeived meat, and which has unfortunately caused the death of Ihaka te Tai, M.H.K.,and iheßev. Renata Tangata. Additional particulars of this sad affair are now to hand. It appears that on Sunday last, Archdeacon Clarke, of P^nell, had a number of fiiends up to dinner. The party included Archdeacon and Mrs Clarke, Messrs Wulpole and Beatty, Ihaka te Tai, the Rev. Hore Papahia, Renata and Rupeno Paerata. Ono of the dshes contained the remnants of a tin of. corned beef, which hud been opened on the previous day. The four Maori-", Messrs Beatty and Walpole, and Mrs Clarke paitook of the dish, and some honra later all, with the exception of Mr Beaity, were attacked with sjmptoins of poisoning — purging and vomiting. The Maoris, who are residing afc the Pier Hotel, were attended by Dr. Hooper, and they left for their homes on Monday, although owing to Ihaka's continued illness, both Dr. Hooper and Archdeacon Clark, endeavoured to induce them to remain. Of the others who were affected, Mrs Clarke and Mr Walpole suffered most ; indfed, until this morning Mrs Clarkes life was believed to be in danger. A tolephone mepaage from Parnell to-day informs us that ehe is now better. We are informed that thh ia the first instance on record of poieoning resulting from the eating of canned meat. Several cases are reported in connection with American canned fish, and ifc has hithorlo been supposed that the. germination of poieonoua matter in this way, was limited to canned fish. It is of course by no means clear that the present poieoning case arose from canned meat at all. Then poison may have accidentally found itd way into the pie of which the corned meat only formed a trifling portion. The theory that the poieon did not come from the canned moat is strengthened by the fact that some of the meat from the can was eaten on the previous day without any injurious effects. The case is one that ought to be enquired into as to settle definitely the cause of the most unfortunate accident. If the poison came from the canned meat it is essential that data should be collected in. order to prevent the recurrence of euch. a catastrophe. On the other hand, if, as appears probible, the poiaon did not arise from anything in the canning, any etigina that may attach to such articles should ba removed. Dr. Hooper states that when be last saw the natives they had apparently Rot over the worst of the attack, and he did not think that any of their lives were in danger. —Auckland "Star."