Ptomaine Poisoning (Noun)
Meaning
A term for food poisoning that is no longer in scientific use; food poisoning was once thought to be caused by ingesting ptomaines.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Historians of medicine note that ptomaine poisoning was a term once used to describe food poisoning, although it has since been discredited as a scientific explanation.
- The early 20th-century cookbook warned readers about the dangers of ptomaine poisoning from spoiled meat and fish.
- Before the discovery of bacteria as a cause of foodborne illness, people believed that ptomaine poisoning was the primary culprit behind food poisoning.
- In the late 19th century, ptomaine poisoning was a commonly cited cause of foodborne illness, although this theory has since been disproven.
- The outdated medical textbook still referenced ptomaine poisoning as a cause of foodborne illness, highlighting the need for updated information.