1032 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [6] 



morue alteree. (Study on cases of poisoning at L'Orient by spoiled cod- 

 iish). 



In a more recent treatise, published in the Annales d'Hygiene publique 

 etde Medecine legale (October, November, and December, 1885) under 

 the title Recherches sur les accidents que provoque la morue alteree (In- 

 vestigation of cases of poisoning caused by spoiled codfish) Dr. Berenger- 

 Feraud, has grouped together all similar cases which have come to his 

 knowledge, and has produced a remarkable monograph, showing the 

 question as it stands at present in all its features. 



The number of cases which he describes is 7, and they are not all 

 of equal importance. We reproduce the description of the last, in point 

 of time, as given by Dr. Berenger-Feraud. 



On October 3, 1884, a number of cases of sickness, occasioned by 

 eating codfish from the naval commissary at L'Orient, occurred among 

 the crew of the fleet stationed at that port. Of 387 men composing the 

 crew of the frigate Vengeance, 175 were taken sick; 111 of these within 

 twelve hours after partaking of codfish at the noonday meal. 



At the same time similar cases occurred on board the Aubette and 

 among the marines; but none of these were as serious as the first men- 

 tioned. On board the Aubette there were only 19 cases of sickness out 

 of a total number of 978 men, and among the marines only 17 were 

 sick out of a total of 74(3 men; the largest proportion of sick (45 per- 

 cent.) was on board the Vengeance; and to these Dr. Berenger-Feraud 

 gave his special attention. 



We should state right in the beginning that most careful investiga- 

 tions very clearly determined the causes of the sickness, as neither the 

 utensils in which the food had been cooked nor the water, bread, cof- 

 fee, wine, or the oil used in the preparation of the codfish showed the 

 slightest traces of poisonous matter. 



In most cases the following symptoms were observed soon after the 

 persons had been taken sick: Stomach-ache, nausea, vomiting, attacks 

 of diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by the passage of blood, and cold- 

 ness in the lower extremities. Cramps in the lower extremities were 

 not observed in all cases. All these symptoms were of a very pro- 

 nounced bilious character. The first period of the sickness, lasting 

 from two to ten hours, generally was followed by a period of reaction, 

 accompanied by great lassitude. Convalescence was very rapid, and 

 even those who suffered from the most serious attacks did not have to 

 stay in the hospital more than eight to ten days. In fact, in all these 

 cases of poisoning the first symptoms were very alarming, but the conse- 

 quences were not serious. A commission of competent men, appointed 

 by the vice-admiral commanding at L'Orient, made a careful examina- 

 tion of the codfish furnished by the naval commissary at L'Orient on 

 October 3, and found that some of it was perfectly sound, while some 

 was spoiled. 



According to the report of this commission, the change in the cod- 



