Index :: 1901 Food Poisoning

The New York Press

October 29, 1901

Gen. Drake’s Family Poisoned

Youngest Son Still Very Ill from Effects of Eating Corned Beef

ELIZABETH, N. J., Oct. 28.—General J. Madison Drake of this city, his wife and nine other members of his family were poisoned seriously last night. It is considered certain that canned corned beef which they ate caused the trouble. The General’s married children, as is their custom, spent Sunday evening at their parents’ home in Jefferson Avenue, and all had supper together. All of the eleven persons present last night partook of the beef. About midnight all were attacked with violent cramps and vomiting. Physicians were summoned and antidotes administered.

By morning all were out of danger with the exception of J. Madison Drake, Jr., the youngest son, who is publisher of the Elizabeth Daily Leader. He is confined to bed at his home in Westpack Avenue, but the attending physician expects to bring him around all right.

Questions

1. What was the supposed cause of the illness? What made this item newsworthy to the New York Press: the fact that food poisoning occurred, or the fact that it happened to a prominent family?

2. In what ways was the Industrial Revolution in part responsible for the incident?

3. Was there much government regulation of food quality in 1901? When did substantial government regulation of the food industry occur, and why?