A FAMILY POISONED AT MALMESBURY.

On Christmas Day a painful occurrence took place at Boakley Farm, Brokenborough, about one mile from Malmesbury, the residence of Mr Robert Lloyd, a farmer, and his wife and family. It appears that Mr and Mrs Lloyd and two grown-up daughters sat down to dinner about half-past 12; the son and two of the daughters having gone out to dinner. The parties partook of the customary roast beef, plentifully garnished with what was supposed to be horse raddish, of which Mrs Lloyd partook freely, and the father and one daughter ate a little, the other daughter not partaking of any. In about twenty minutes after dinner Mr, Mrs, and Miss Lloyd were taken very ill, strong symptoms of poisoning being evident. Mrs Lloyd went upstairs to lay down. Mr Lloyd at once took a strong dose of mustard, which acted as an emetic, causing him to vomit freely. He took some to his wife, but it did not have the desired effect. The other daughter hastily ran for assistance, and Dr. Kinneir was summoned from Malmesbury, but not being at home, Dr. Pitt at once went to the sufferers’ assistance. He found Mrs Lloyd dead, and Mr and Miss Lloyd greatly suffering from the effects of eating some poisonous root, the symptoms in the survivors being a weak intermittent pulse, with numbness and tingling all over the body. Mr Lloyd, having taken the mustard, was not so seriously affected as his daughter, to whom Dr. Pitt at once administered a powerful emetic, which acted speedily. Hot water was applied to the feet, and strong brandy and water administered to the patients, who were in a very precarious state. It appeared from the inquiries of the medical men that a plentiful supply of horse radish grew in the garden, and that Miss Lloyd dug from the bed what she supposed was horse radish, but which the medical men believe to be (from the appearance of the root in their possession) monkshood or aconitas naprullus, a most deadly poison. The root to the ordinary observer has every appearance of horse radish, excepting the stalk, which is of a different kind. We find from the report of Dr. Kinneir yesterday (Friday) that Mr and Miss Lloyd are progressing favourably, and hopes are now entertained of their recovery. Much sympathy is felt in the town and neighbourhood for the sufferers.