THE DANGERS OF TINNED MEATS.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3210, 21 January 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DANGERS OF TINNED MEATS.

At a meeting of the Hampstead Vestry on Thursday, a report was received from |)r K, fiivynn, the medical officer of health, in which he slated that ■' the dansrers that occasionally attend the consumption nf tinned meats aio well exemplified in the following interesting caso," The n['orl then stated that a freshly-opened tinned tongue, purchased in Hampstoad, was placed before " IIY X," his wife, and two children, for breakfast, on the morning of November 11th, Upon carving the tongue, Mr X. perceived an unusual appearance and odour, and stopped his wife and younger child from eating it—they had only just, tasted it, He then divided an omelctto with the fork ho had used in carving the tongue, About Lwclvo o'clock his wifo and the younger child were seized with uncontrollable voinitinp and diiirrhie-i, and the wife also had sovoro pain, and fell on the floor collapsed, Dr Boulting, on being called iu, fonad her almost pulseless. The elder child was seized with sickness in the afternoon, and tlio father felt sick and faint, with cold perspirations, These two latter had not tasted the tongue, hut had only eaten the omelette divided with the infected fork. All ultimately recovered, but the mother was very ill for some days, Upon inspection Dr Gwyint found the tinned tongue soft, dull iu colour, wet and unwholesome looking, with absence of the jelly generally pres-nt. in these tins. Ho Bent the tongue lo Mr Stokes, tlio public analyst, and ho reported that it was" tlio most virulent satnplo of tinned moat that lie had yet met with." The microscope showed portions of it to be decomposed, and the meat to bo saturated with salts of iron, its poisonous nature lieipg duo to the corroding power of the decomposing meat juice on the containing iron vessel, In avidcuco of its groat poisonous power, Mr Stokes stated iu his report that his assistant took a picco uot larger than a shilling, and in five bonis was seized with vomiting, diarrhoea, and giddiness, the vomiting recurring at intervals for thirty boms afterwards. Dr Gwynn, in his report, added," A genoral caution to tlio public may be expressed tlmt tinned meat? which appear wet, pappy, and emit a faint or putrid odour when opened should not be eaten, but bo carefully avoided." The Sanitary Committee of the vestry, wlio had had Dr Gwynn's report under consideration, stated that they bad instructed the vestry clerk to write to the importers, forwarding an extract from the report, and quoting tho analyst's opinion of the tinned tongue in question.