Denaby and Conisbrough.
Alarming sequel to a public tea.
One death.
Ptomaine poisoning on a somewhat extensive scale has occurred at Denaby and Cadeby, in which place nearly a score of people have had to receive medical attention. It is stated that further cases of less severity have also arisen.
And with all the sufferers, it appears, attended a public tea in Denaby, a week or so ago, and so far, one death is reported, that of Ellen Smith, 44, of 38, Warmsworth Street, Denaby Main (married). Mrs Smith returned home on Saturday night, April 26th, after having attended the tea, and retired to bed apparently in her usual health. Later in the night, she was taken ill, and between three and four o’clock in the morning she was very ill. Dr MacArthur was called in at 11 o’clock the following morning, and attended her up to the time of her death, which occurred on Monday. During her illness the deceased woman said she had eaten some pork pie and tongue at a tea and thought that had made her ill.
Eunice Evans, a married woman, Maltby Street, Denaby, giving evidence at an inquest held by Mr Frank Allen, on Tuesday afternoon at Denaby main, said she accompanied the deceased to the tea and ate some ham and tongue and pie. She felt no ill effects and considered the food was very good indeed
Frank Darley, foreman Baker, of Conisbrough, said he prepared the food for the tea, excepting the ham and tongue which were ready cooked and supplied on the 25th April, by a Sheffield firm. The meat for the pork pies came from Sheffield firm and a local butcher. He produced invoices corroborating his statement. The tea urns came from Rotherham district to the school, and were scalded out before they were used. The pies were made on the evening of Wednesday, April 23. Fifty 2lb pies were made on April 23 and were in a condition to keep for a week. He attended the tea, and did not receive any complains. He had been in the business for 23 years and, in his opinion the food provided was the best that could be obtained.
Dr John McArthur said the deceased woman had had no serious illness up to 27th of April. She was not a robust woman. He was called to her on Sunday, 27th April, at 11 in the morning, and found her in a serious state. He attended her from that date to her death, which, in his judgement, was probably due to ptomaine poisoning. There was no sign of mineral poisoning. He added that he had 11 other patients who had attended the tea, and who were suffering similar effects. In one case a woman had been seriously ill, but he thought she would recover.
in the course of further evidence, and in reply to further questions, witness said he should say there was danger in eating a pork pie after it had been made 48 hours. The preparation which were generally used for making jelly in the pie would have a tendency to act on the pie.
The coroner in the course of this summing up, said there was no doubt from the doctors evidence that the woman died from ptomaine poisoning, and he did not think it necessary that a post-mortem examination should be held, though the jury could order one if they were in doubt.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death from ptomaine poisoning.
It was stated that four other cases of ptomaine poisoning are reported from Conisbrough, including Mr Baylis, secretary of the Cooperative Society at Denaby.