MYSTERY SOLVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1940, Page 6

MYSTERY SOLVED

e POISONING OF SHIP'S CREW. DOCTOR TRACES SOURCE. LONDON, December 2. A two-year-old mystery of the sea, the poisoning of almost the whole crew of the steamship Jean L.D., nas at last been solved. The story began in October, 1937. With a crew of 34 and three passengers—a woman and her two small daughters—the Joan L.D. reached the Pori of London from Durban. Members of the crew reported having been attacked by a strange illness. The vessel went to her home port, Dunkirk, early in November; there 17 of the crew were admitted to hospital. Altogether 22 men were attacked. The illness began with digestive troubles then, after from eight to fifteen days, paralysis symptoms appeared. Some were unable to bend their knees and could not stand up without help. Others were unable to move their wrists, fingers or thumbs, or clench their hands. Arsenic was suspected, but could not be traced. Some weeks after the outbreak came a clue, from South Africa. Cases occurred at Durban of motor neuritis, similar to the so-called finger paralysis that, occurred some years ago in America. That led to inquiries and analyses of certain edible oils. It. came to light that a salad oil used on the homeward voyage of the Jean L.D. had a curious smell like iodoform and cans of it had been thrown overboard by order of the captain.

Though the efforts of Dr C. F. White, then medical officer for the Port of London, a one-gallon can. said to have been part of the oil from the stores of the Joan L.D.. was traced. It was found that this oil contained phenols (probably cresol) and phosphoric acid.