Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-04-03

A HINT TO MoTHERs.-A correspond
ent OF the Cincinnati Chronicle has com.
menced in that paper the publication Of
series Of Gases from the note book of
| Physician" with view OF illustrating the
evil effects Of great variety of medicines,
used in families. that should never be taken
without the aavice OF Physician. We
copy the FIRST "cnse." on account Of the inter-
est which parents and nurses have in il.
January le. le39.--Early this morning
| was called by Mr.--on Fourth street.
TO see an only child, said 10 be i'll OF Group.
Upon arriving at the house found the little
patient a beautiful and well formed boy of
sixteen months Of age, upon The lap Of
nurse. an elderly matron. apparently insen-
sible. ccunlenance blue face swelled OF bloa-
ted, and the breathing deep. long, irregular
and stentorus The nurse Informed me
hat when she first awoke, she found him
rubbing bis nose, and hence she concluded
he might have worms as well Group.
Upon examining the case, il appeared
that the mother ofthe child had gone 10
party at eight o'clock on the previous even
ing, leaving her child playful and well. and
when she returned, which was al late hour.
she retired without inqniring into lis condi-
hence she supposed that all was WELL until
she was aroused in The morning BY its deep
and difficult respiration. It's parents as well
as the visitors thought il now in the last
stage OF the Group. The nurse had seen
many IN the same situation, and could not
therefore be mistaken. TO me- however,
u was apparent there was no inflammation
in the case. The child had evidently taken
a powerful narcotic. and from the time which
had elapsed since il was administered. as
well as from the deep congestion of the lungs
and brain. 1t was prabably beyond the pos
ibility ofcure
As the Nurse appeared TO be extremely
alarmed for the safety ofthe child. inquiring
most anxiously whether j, could recover,
! came 10 the conclusion that she was not
entirely ignorant of the cause OF its present
situation. therefore took her aside, and
informed her that il had lakeE large por-
ton Of either opium or laudanum, and that
It could only be relieved by full knowledge
OF all the facts in the case AT first she de-
cIaIed in the mos, solemn manner that she
had not given j. any thing but when infor-
med that the truth could be easily asc ertnin-
ed by an examination after dealh she adj
mitled she bad al first given il small! por-
ton OF paragoric--all that was in The phial
an hour or Two after the departure OF tho
mother, IN order 10 keep it quiet as il cried
continually for her return. AS this did not
have The desired effect. she gave il small
pill Of opium, after which they both fell a.
sleep inquired where she got the opium.
She replied she always kept il with her, as
parasorc or Godfrey's cordial had little or
no effect upon some children, who we're so
very cross that she could not sleep without
lis aid. When questioned as to the size OF
the pill she said it was larger than a pca.
then informed her that the child must die.
but agreed no: 10 expose her If she would
promise never 10 administer opium again.
IN any form, without the advice Of physic-
ian. 10 this proposition she readily assem-
ted. and called Heaven TO witness that her
promise should never be violated. She eyi-
DENLY did not intend 10 iniure the child.
She only wished TO keep it quiet with as lii.
tie trouble as possible.
All the means of cure known to physi.
clans in such cases were Immediately resor-
ted to, but the poison had taken TOO deep
hold upon the nervous system. All my ef-
foris to rescue It from an untimcIy grave
proved aborlive. and in twenty minutes il
On the following day, ,hs Gaxrt,e contain
ed notice OF its death, and an invitation TO
the funeral, commencing with .Died of
Group" Thus persisted beautiful and
healthy child The real cause Of lis death
was never known to its parents. Neither
oithese can now be affected BY its publ.
cation, as tue mother has since followed her
babe. and the falher is absent from the CITY.
The loss OF her infant continued to prey up.
on her spirits. until her remains were con-
veyed TO The church yard. and placed beside
those OF her offspring. The nurse sill remains.
She may be assured that the cause of the
death OF her victim remains known only 10
her and myself am assured, however.
tina, she has not yet seen SO many in the
same condition" since that event as before.
The above case is not one OF fiction. II
IS strictly true. without single exaggera.
lion; and. were 10 give the names OF the
parties. the principal circumstances would
readily be remembered by those now living
in the neighborhood
Trinity Church New York-A record
has been preserved oflhe persons buried in
he cemetery Of this church. since I7O2. ex
-. = Al a