p. 16 | The Deadly Ptomain

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 19, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 20.

The Deadly Ptomain.

In speaking of these cases of death from ptomain poisoning the New York Journal, after remarking that science knows little about the matter, says: “To the scientist it is perhaps interesting to know that the ptomain known as halichthytoxin was the cause of the death of Seidl, that tyrotoxicon killed the man who ate ice-cream, and that a modification of the fish ptomain—halichthytoxin—was responsible for the death of the little girl who ate canned salmon, but the average man wants to know how to tell whether his food has these things in it, and what antidote he can take if he finds himself poisoned. On these subjects science has little to say. It is established that the poisonous portion of any particular sample of food can not be distinguished either chemically or microscopically.” But nearly all ptomain poisoning comes from animal foods. If one is afraid of it, a good Providence sets before him a better bill of fare in good, wholesome vegetables, fruits, and grains.