The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-19

out Of their hunks
Singular and Fatal Mistake by q Physician.
Coroner Gamble concluded inquest yesterday at No.
POI Seventh avenue upon the body Of child two years
and seven months old, named Sarah NJ A. Brown, who
died from the effects of doee Of narcotic poison admin
ered to her her mother through the careessness of
Or. II. d. Ranney tho attending physician. It appears
from the evidence adduced before the Coroner that the
physician while writing out prescription for deceased
also for elderly patient Of his residing in the
neghborhood which he accidentally left behind him on
taking his departure from the house. The mother took
both prescriptions drug store and administered them
the child. The intended for the adult patient
powerful mixture Of audanum to be applied externally
for neuralgia The mother not knowing the fatal mistake
that had been made, gave her child four doses of tbs
medicine which brought deep sleep and DEATH
The folio wing report of the proceedings they trans
pired before the Coroner
Catherine Brown being duly sworn deposes and says
am mother of the deceased she I'VE years and seven
ago; called Dr. Ranney to visit her the following Friday
the doctor said she had worms and he ordered me 10 give
gave her little powder prescribed by the doctor; the
doctor came the next day she appeared better Sun.
fever; Wednesday last the doctor her and pre-
scTibed ointment for a swelling she had under her
room and handed II to me and then went out; when
back TO where the doctor had been writing found
another prescription the table, supposed was for
deceased and sent and the for the ointment the
drug store of Twenty fourth street and Eighth
avenue; my messenger brought back mixture and
ointment; as the doctor had said nothing, / did
not give deceased any Of the mixture when
he called again the following day, asked him if he in
tended s Should as give e % s any OF the bottle
spoonful every four hours repeated his directions when
he said "Then half tea spoonful will be sufficient for
her gave the mixture about four times; after the first
dose she flushed up very much, and after became
drowsy after this she became better but when
during the night, and died at sh O'clock yesterday NOR.
nil few minutes before her death DR.. Ranney
here and sad nothing could be done for her. Dr. Ranney
wrote both these prescriptions at the same tme in
room.
Ramsay Black clerk the drug store already referred
to- deposed that the prescriptions sh ,wn him were put
by him; both prescriptions had attached TO them tho
initials Of II. r., which recognized those of Dr.
Henry S Rannsy laying frequently put up prescriptions
Henry D. RaDney, NJ D., being duly sworn, deposed as
foows-I keep office at l92 West Twenty fourth street,
was attending q patient at 2f0 Seventh avenue, named
Henry Marshall; he had typhoid fever came to this
house on Friday week ago, and was requested by Mrs.
Brown to visit deceased found her with symptoms Of
worms and prescribed accordingly saw her again
morning; Sunday found deceased had eruption in
what be err and having lump under the ear prescrb-
ed ointment and while doing SO remembered having
II in my mind to give deceased tncture OF bark but did
not write than one prescription at that time for de-
ceased and this for an ointment, which handed 10
the mother; came next day and saw deceased; the
mother handed me bottle containing about two anda
half Of dark coored mixture looking like the tine
ture Of bark; looked at the bottle but did not
smell II: could not account for having the bottle, know
ing that bad prescribed however ppoeing 70 be
the tincture OF bark and that might have forgotten H.
ordered to be administered 10 the deceased when
deceased yesterday morning thought there must be
mistake, as could not account for the condition Of de-
ceased therefore went 70 the drug store examine my
prescription, and there found that prescription had
written for lady patient who had the neuralgia had been
made Tor Mrs. Browns child and administered 10 her
before stated the only say account for this s THAI
T1tng for the ointment for deceased could think
OF prescribing the medicine given 10 deceased
John Brown, father Of deceased, depoeed follows
went last evening to the office OF Or RanDey, and told
him there must be something wrong about the medicine;
the doctor came TO my house and wanted TO take the
dicine away, but my wife would dot give II 10 him
Drs Finnell, OIlanlon and Ferguson made post
TEN examination Of the body and testified that death had
been caused by narcotic poison and that In their
opinion, the medicine administered 70 deceased the
cause OF death.
The jury In this rendered the following verdict
That Sarah A. Brown came TO her death by
son administered by the mother at the directions Of r
H. H. Rannfy, jan IA, 1885, further DR. Ran
fur cupabe careiesness in not having inquired into
the character OF the medicine be ordered be admins
tered 10 the deceased and would respectfully call
the Legislature Of this State laws compelling ply
sicsns all 10 append 20 their prescriptions the
character OF the medicine and the mode Of using IT, and
the person Tor whose use II was Intended"
One OF the Jurors, Mr. Robert RUSSELL dissened from
the rest, and rendered tho following verdict his
sccount-Tha the deceased her death by narcotic
poison administered by mistake am OF the opinion that
this mistake originated In the mothers having procured
medicine on the prescription not presented 10 her by Dr.
Ranney, at the time that believe Dr. Ranney guilty
Of cupsbe neglect"
uron the rendition of NE above yerdcts Coroner
30 bail in the OF 81 ooo 70 await the Of the
Grand Jury, To-day the Doctor will appear before the
Coroner and into bonds in the above sum at the
Coroner's Office, No. Q Centre street.