American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-01-31
MELANCHOLY ArrA.R.

II IAiSd az a Critical Conditioa.-Yss.
tsrday the vicinity ufthe Eastern Foun.
taio was thrown into the greatest ex.
citemeu,. by tho announcement of the
death ~ two peisons by poison aud the
probable death of third. The state.
ment of the facts weio such that, in
many instances, psrties would give no
credencs tn the rumor. but, fearful to
relate. it proved too true. The causo
of this fearful affair was a mistake in
the c"mpounding Of a prescription by
the drugyst. the circumstances Of which
are as fpllows:-Dr a. b. Arnold, resi-.
ding on East Lombard street, family
physician OF Mr.. John Eckert, whose
dwellings is at No. rs CRANKY street,
was called in OF Tuesday to attend one
ofthe children. boy about two years
OF age. DR.. Arnold wrote a prssc,ip.
tion for powder and mixture. Tho lat.
tor to DO taken three hours after. It
somehow came 10 pass that the mixture
was not given to the child that night,
and yesterday morning its appearance
was so very favorable that the mother
thought II unnecessary to use the mix
ture. but MIR. Ecke't said as long rs the
medicine had been ordered it would be-
betterto follow the Doctors directions.
The child's illness proceeded from a
slight fever, aud the prescription which
DR.. Arnold gave was as to!lows:--5
grains OF calomel, and grains of pull.
verified rhubarb. This was to be taken
in powder, aud three hours after the
following mixture 2 scrnples chlora,e
ofpotass.4 drachms each honey of squiIls
and syrup oflsmon, Ii ounces OF istil.
led anniseed water. This, as the direc-
tons stated was to be given To tn.
child, teasPoonful every three hours,
and the mother accordingly proceeded
TO administer tho dose. The child
made considerable re sistance, and the
mother succeeded in administering only
half the dose, but SO powerful was it tina,
IN ten minutes tho child was dead.-
DR.. Arnold was Immediately summon
ed, and so cophdent was he that the
child's death was not caused by the
medicine, aud that he made no mistake
in writing the prescription, that he asked
for the medicine and swallowed a tea.
spoonful, and was in The act OF repeat.
ing the dose, when he felt tho symptoms
fthe poison which it contained work
ing upon him. He instantly started for
the apothecary's Ernest Leffen, corner
Eden andLombard streets, add on reach
ing tho store was barely able to tell
them to give him powerful emetic,
snd fell upon the floor. In few mo.
ments afterwards, Mr.. Eckets entered
with the medicine. charging Letter with
having killed his child. Mr.. l.. main.
tanned that it could not be-lhe medi-
cine was simple. and he had compouu-
ded the prescription accurately, to
prove which he would take some of il,
and pouring out teaspoonful, drank il.
He then turned and entered an apart
ment IN the rear, Tell upon The floor,
and in twenty minutes was corpse
The scene which followed beggars des.
cription. Husband, wife, and mother,
all frantic from the deplorable results
of a mistake. ln very space of time
the street in front of the house was fill
cd with human beings, each eager to
Know what was tho matter, aud at any
timo during the day could be seen
crowds OF persons standing in the vi.
cinity of The house, drawn hither by
the powerful excitement which perva-
ded that quarter. DIS. Yeates, Mormon
Ter, Kinnemon, aud others, were in at
tendance, but were unable to be ofany
service whatever to Nj. Letter. The
eme'ic which DR.. Arnold had taken
caused him to vomit freely, and was
| probably the saving ofhis life, as he is
considered out of danger. Upon an ex-
animation of the medicine, it was found
that from come cause or other. cyanide
of potass, which is deadly poison,
had been substituted forchlorate of pot.
! ass. aud had produced the lamentable
results which we have been careful
| person, in whom all, who were acquain.
ted with him, had the utmost confidence.
DR.. Arnold, the attending physician,
is exonerated from any blame in tho
matter. Coroner Cunningham sum.
moned jury, who, after hearing the
statement of the witnesses, rendered
tie following verdict in the case of the
child. Ihat ine child came to its death
from carelessness in the apv.hecary not
compromising the prescription properly
In the case OF Mr.. Letter they returned
verdict that be came TO his death by
drinking part of medicine which had
been improperly compounded by him.
| sell tor child, which medicine contain.
ed cyanide of potass instead of cheor.
ate nf pofaaa =. Ru5J; ,,ore q, sr,,,,