POISONING WITH TINNED FISH. NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO PERSONS. Auckland, Feb. 20.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 345, 23 February 1889, Page 6

POISONING WITH TINNED FISH. NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO PERSONS. Auckland, Feb. 20.

Another instance of poisoning by tinned iish is reported, and should prove a caution to people who are in the habit of using these preserves. Mr McGregor, well known in connection with T. and B. Morrin and Company's High-street store, and a son, aged 23 years, had a rather startling experience on Saturday morning last. About 7a. m. they had breakfast, and partook of tin of preserved fresh herrings, opened a few minutes previously. Mr McGregor says, "My son tasted the herrings and said that there was something wrong with them, but there was neither smell nordiscolouration perceptible 1 tasted the fish myself, and found it quite sour. I aid not eat more than one eighth of an ounce, but my son ate about two ounces. I went to work, and my son remained at home. About nine o'clock I was taken very ill with violent retching and vomiting, and had to go home. I found my son had been taken bad about the same time, but he was much worse than I was. Dr. Mackellar happened to be passing and was called in. My son was then as cold as. ice and complained of cramp all over his body, Dr. Mackellar applied hot fomentations and administered medicine. He did not treat me in the same way, and remarked that the poison had evidently worked itself out in me, as I had taken so little of the fish. My son continued dangerously ill until 8 o'clock on Saturday night, bub since then he has recovered and is now as well as ever." Mr McGregor believes that the contents of the tin must have become poisoned through admission of the air, but at the same time he says that be was unable to discover any break in the package.