58 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



inch of it. One of the severest cases was about six and 

 one-half mouths pregnant, but no interference with preg- 

 nancy occurred. All the cheese which caused the sickness 

 came from the same piece." 



The second sample of cheese examined by WALLACE 

 came from Riverton, N. J. This outbreak included a 

 smaller number of persons, all of whom recovered. 



WOLFF has detected tyrotoxicon in cheese which poisoned 

 several persons at Shamokin, Pa. The pores of this cheese 

 were found filled with a grayish-green fungoid growth, 

 though it is not supposed that this fungus was connected in 

 any way with the poisonous nature of the cheese. Tests 

 were made for mineral poison with negative results, after 

 which tyrotoxicou was recognized both by chemical and 

 physiological tests. " A few drops of the liquid (extract), 

 placed on the tongue of a young kitten, produced prompt 

 emesis and numerous watery dejections with evident depres- 

 sion and malaise of the animal. A larger cat was similarly 

 affected by it, though the depression and malaise were not 

 so marked nor so long continued." 



Cheese poisoning caused the death of several children in 

 the neighborhood of Heiligenstadt, in 1879, and there were 

 many fatal cases from the same cause in Pyrmont, in 1878. 

 Unfortunately we have not been able to find any detailed 

 account of either the symptoms or the post-mortem appear- 

 ances in these cases. 



EHRHART has published the history of some cases of 

 poisoning from cheese, of which the following is an abstract : 

 The family of a workman, consisting of eight persons, ate for 

 supper 600 grammes (about eighteen ounces) of Limburger 

 cheese. The rind was covered with a heavy mould, while 

 the interior had become fluid from putrefaction, and was of 

 bitter taste. Three ate only of the mouldy rind, and these 

 remained well. The next morning, the five who had eaten 

 of the inner portion suffered from vertigo, nausea, vomiting, 

 and abdominal pains ; no stool. The father had convulsive 

 movements of all the extremities. The pupils were dilated, 

 and did not respond to light ; there were double vision, 

 cold sweat, skin cyanotic, abdomen distended, difficulty in 



