POISONOUS CHEESE. 65 



have occurred. Many of the physicians at first diagnosed 

 the cases from the symptoms as due to arsenical poisoning, 

 and on this supposition some administered ferric hydrate. 

 Others gave alcohol and other stimulants and treated upon 

 the expectant plan. 



Vauuhan, to whom the cheese was sent for analysis, 

 made the following report: "All of these three hundred 

 cases were caused by eating of twelve different cheeses. Of 

 these, nine were made at one factory, and one each at three 

 other factories. Of each of the twelve I received smaller 

 or larger pieces. Of each of ten I received only small 

 amounts. Of each of the other two I received about 

 eighteen kilogrammes. The cheese was in good condition 

 and there was nothing in the taste or odor to excite sus- 

 picion. However, from a freshly cut surface there exuded 

 numerous drops of a slightly opalescent fluid which red- 

 dened litmus paper instantly and intensely. Although, as 

 I have stated, I could discern nothing peculiar in the odor, 

 if two samples, one of good, the other of poisonous cheese, 

 were placed before a dog or cat, the animal would invari- 

 ably select the good cheese. But if only poisonous cheese 

 was ofl'ered, and the animal was hungry, it would partake 

 freely. A cat was kept seven days and furnished only 

 poisonous cheese and water. It ate freely of the cheese 

 and manifested no untoward symptoms. After the seven 

 days the animal was etherized and abdominal section was 

 made. Nothing abnormal could be found. I predicted, 

 however, in one of my first articles on poisonous cheese, 

 that the isolated poison would aflFect the lower animals. 

 As to the truth of this prediction we will see later. 



" My friend, Dr. Sternberg, the eminent bacteriologist, 

 found in the opalescent drops above referred to numerous 

 micrococci. But inoculations of rabbits with these failed 

 to produce any results. 



"At first I made an alcoholic extract of the cheese. After 

 the alcohol was evaporated in vacuo at a low temperature 

 a residue consisting mainly of fatty acids remained. I ate 

 a small bit of this residue, and found that it produced dry- 

 ness of the throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The 



