The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-11

Eleventh street.
Coroner Gamble ooudsd the inquest yesterday In TIE
case OF Robert Foster infant Of Mr. Robert Foster
OF No. i5s East Eleventh street. VINO dcd from the
OF an overdose Of opium administered by Dr. Macdonald
Allan Of No. AT Grand street. The Doctor present
during the investigation and stated that he did not in
tend to prescribe opium He meant he said to give the
child rhubarb but in moment Of houghtlessness he pre-
scrbed opium. The following a report of the proceed
ings as they TRANSFERRED before the Coroner
Robert Foster residing at No i5s East Eleventh street,
deposed "a folows:-Deceased was my child; he was
born the LIST inst my wife then attended by Dr.
Burke OF Grand street, he after the child
born; day or two afterwards DR.. Allan came and
said he had been sent by DR.. Burke, as the lat
ter had gone in the country; the next time
he called on Monday he then talked with my wife
and said he would give medicine for the darrhoa
and left prescriptions In the evening about eight o'clock
went to Dr. Purcells drug store In avenue TO have
the prescription prepared ! handed y 70 clerk, who
and asked the age of the child; told him the child
three or four days old after he weighed tho medicine he
said II was strong dose; said not to give the child
strong medicine but he said that the Doctors bust
ness and not his got four powders and returned home
about half past ten O'Clock my wife gave the child half Of
one OF the powders; the powder mixed with milk;
the child did not swallow all; IL out Of the
Of its mouth and probably one-haf OF lost In this
way in about quarter OF IN hour Afterwards, my vito
came to ana said the child dying went to the
child aud found Il In convulsions; then called up
Mrs Smith who remained with the child until it died.
they gave deceased some castor oil aud chicken grease
the commissions continued more less until about day
light, when deceased seemed little easier then went
for Dr. Allan, who came back with me; whom returned
the child commissions; deceased continued in that
state until i've O'clock when he died. the doctor remark
meSicne and tina, Il WSs either his or the SrusaSts
fault the prescription shown me and the powders are the
same have spoken Of.
Sarah Ann Foster deposes and says-Decessed WIS my
child he was born on the LIST Of August 1880 was arst
attended by Burke, and afterwards by Dr. Allan Dr. A.
called Friday, Saturday and Monday Monday he called
about half past twelve O'clock then told him that the
child loose in its bowels IL had ten twelve passs
ges in the twenty four hours he then said he would give
1t some simple medicine TO relieve it, he len prescrp
ton and said there four powders he told 10 give
that night and it not relieved to give another
in the morning. In the evening called my husband to
give deceased powder he told me that the druggist said
IL was large dose and we concluded not TO give 1t ali
think we gave It about third Of the powder; put the
powder In teaspoon and added little breast milk;
then stirred II with my finger and gave 70 the child
Of it out Of the Of its mouth but don't
think any of II was lost as put back what out of
its mouth in few minutes the deceased fell asleep; it
continued 70 sleep for about ten minutes quarter Of
an hour he axoke easily and gave a scream at same
time; thought the child would die and my husband
for Mrs. Smith, who came; then gave the
child about eight drops Of castor oil, mixed with breast
milk then gave il scarcely half tesspoonfu Of
chicken grease; the commissions continued until the next
morning would first have CONFUSION and Afterwards
fall Off into sleep II seemed more Of the time in
WILSON'S than free from them; ii died about twenty
minutes past O'Clock the next afternoon that
ing DR.. Allan came; sent for him; when he he
Macdonald Allan, being sworn says:-I reside at No 441
Grand street. am ply scan called to see Mrs Foster
vously; on Monday prescribed the medicine in the
prescription shown Mr. Foster called upon me the
next day and he said the child was in COMMISSIONS
came here and saw deceased; this was on Tuesday
morning. Mr. Foster said the druggist had told him that
the dcine the prescription very strong pre-
scrbod two grains Of opium In four powders did not in
tend to give opium at all intended to give rhubarb;
have had considerable trouble Of late in my family affairs
had ~ SS s ws @ &
for the child the dose would have been proper for an
adult
Ralph Kershaw, residing at 100 avenue A, deposed a.
folows-I am druggist; am employ cd by DR.. Purcell
al the above place have attended two courses Of lee
lures nj the Thirteenth street Medical College; i put
up the prescription shown me- supposed the medi.
cine was for child u wa 10 be subdvded into smaller
powders
post morten examination upon the body Of deceased;
found the various organs In normaltcondton, with
the exception Of the stomach that organ was
Redeemed about the smaller curvature nom the test
oly In the aud the appearance Of the body am o
opinion that death may have been caused by an Overdose
Of opium.
Tie case was then given TO the jury who after due de
liberation, rendered verdict OF "Death by convuson
from overdose Of opium administered by Dr. Macdon
I'D Allan. The jury believe the physician guilty OF gros
careessnes and further censure the druggis for
warning the father Of the danger Of administering
large dose OF opium 10 80 young child"
tpon the rendition Of the above verdict, Coroner Gamble
stated that be felt his duty 70 hold Dr. Allan, and pro
cescd tolexamnc him in the usual manner prescribed By
Macdonald Allan being duly examined before the IN
dersiened, according 70 law, on the annexed charge
and being informed that he at liberty TO answer
not oil or any questions put 70 him. states as follows
viz
o. What is your name? A. Macdonald Allan.
@ How old are your A. Twenty ave years
O. where were you bofnf A. Scotland
9 Where do you live A. No, al Grand street.
to the charge here preferred against yous A Ny mind