Fake news is much in the news these days as midterm elections near. But back in 1904 as October advanced, Lucas Countyans --- or at least some of them --- were transfixed by the threat of poisonous cabbage snakes. So much so that some dumped a winter's supply of kraut --- just to be on the safe side.
The whole thing began with a story headlined "Poison Worms in Cabbage," published in The Chariton Patriot of Oct. 6:
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Quite a scare and not a little curiosity prevails in this part of the country, occasioned by the finding of worms in heads of cabbage. The worms are from nine to eighteen inches in length and are said to be very poisonous and that death results in a few hours after eating of cabbage in which they have been cooked.
W. O. Benway brought to the Patriot office on Tuesday one of these worms in a bottle. It is nine inches long, a little larger than a horsehair, pink in color and closely resembles a tiny fishworm. Under a magnifying glass its head is closely akin to a snake.
Mr. Benway tells us that when the worm is placed in cold water it shows fight and when taken out of the bottle in which it has lived for five weeks without food or drink it becomes almost rigid and after a time coils up like a snake. Various ideas have been advanced in regard to it, some saying it is a gordius or hairworm, and perfectly harmless, while others say it is rank poison.
Nevertheless it has caused quite a degree of excitement and many lovers of cabbage will not accept cabbage as a gift. Here is a chance for some scientifically inclined person to make an experiment. Mr. Benway's specimen may be seen at the Patriot office. Mrs. Isaac Downard and Mrs. Tull are also in possession of these worms which they found in cabbage.
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During the week that followed, more than 200 concerned citizens passed through The Patriot offices to view the potentially deadly critter, as reported in The Patriot of Oct. 13 under the headline, "Crowds See Cabbage Worm."
The story of the cabbage worm given in last week's issue of the Patriot and the statement that the worm was on exhibition in this office has attracted over 200 people into our sanctum up to date. The opinions in regard to it have been numerous and varied. Some are strongly of the opinion that it is rank poison; others, like Thomas, are doubtful; some do not give an opinion of any kind. Two or three have poo-poohed at the idea of its being poison yet were not willing to support their belief by eating the worm so that all might have proof positive. However, out of the crowds who have called, only two or three continue to eat cabbage, and some have stated that they threw all their sauerkraut away. We have sent the specimen to the experiment station at Ames, and will probably be able to give our readers some definite information with regard to it next week.
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By the time the Oct. 20 Patriot was published, the report was back from H. E. Summers, state entomologist, whose conclusion was summarized in the headline, "Cabbage Worm Is Harmless." Here's the report:
The cabbage worm, so called, is not at all dangerous, at least that is what H. E. Summers, state entomologist, says and he ought to know. So deep was the interest of the people in this diminutive snake, and its possibilities for harm, that the Patriot sent the worm to the state entomologist and requested authoritative information concerning it. In reply we received this morning the following communication:
Office of the State Entomologist, Ames, Iowa
Nematode Worms in Cabbage
This circular is issued in response to numerous inquiries regarding so-called "cabbage snakes," which have been received at this office recently. Sensational stories have been published in newspapers of deaths caused by eating cabbage containing these worms. We are unable to obtain any well authenticated information of injury from this source.
The long, slender, white worms usually found near the heart of the cabbage are not new, but have been well known to students of this group of animals for a long time past. As they are quite common in cabbages it is entirely unlikely that if if they were injurious the fact would not have been discovered long ago and the exact cause of the injury studied. It seems most probable, therefore, that some accidental sickness has been wrongly attributed to the presence of these worms because no other cause could be found. It is a matter of universal experience that when a sensational account of this kind is published in the newspapers. numerous other cases crop out within a few days, originating with people whose imagination is somewhat stronger than their regard for truth.
H.E. Summers
State Entomologist
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