§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the recent case of wholesale poisoning at Crieff; how many persons were affected with symptoms of poisoning, and in how many did fatal results supervene; whether any official investigation has been made into the occurrence, and by whom; and whether, as reported, the poisoning has been traced to the use of impure sugar; if so, whether the nature and origin of the poisonous impurity have been determined?
§ MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONI am sorry to learn that about 100 persons were affected with symptoms of poisoning, and that two of them have died. An official investigation is being conducted by the Procurator Fiscal, and is now almost complete. The poisoning seems to have been due to the persons affected having partaken of sugar, the bags conveying which had (Some in contact, in course of transit in a railway waggon, with a case containing several tins of a preparation called" Climax Weed Killer," a substance which contains arsenic. The case was leaking, and samples of the sugar have been analysed and found to contain arsenic in dangerous quantities.
§ DR. CAMERONAs the matter is one of very great public interest, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the 790 propriety of obtaining such a Report as he can make public?
§ MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONThere will be a special inquiry, and Papers will be called for.