The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-01-10
How S,ryckn;re Works.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE FEELINGS
OF A POISONED NAN.

INTERESTING ACCOUNT Or hAS
OF A POISONED NAN.
The recent case ofpoisoning in the
lower section of the city has created
considerable interest in this commu-
nifty, especially among men versed IN
medical science, and the theory and
practice of medicine. That the com
plete restoration of the patient, after
taking one grain of strychnine-one
of the most subtle and powerful veg
etable poisons known-was owing to
the skill, prompt action, and very
valuable remedy employed by the at
tending physician, no candid or nm
biased mind will deny. Annexed is
the parents own statement, which
will be read with interest:
"HARR1sBuRG, Nov. %, 1S71.-The
cause that led me to commit the rash
act of which I am about to give an
account can be Of no particular inter-
est; and emitting all illusions to mo-
tives, and making no attempt at ex-
cuse, I will simply state the circum-
stances of the case, which, I think,
NAV be of interest to those engaged
lin. til 70 advancement of medical
science. I am induced to do this at
the request of my friends and physi.
clan, DIR. Coover, with the assurance
that the case is remarkable one.
likely to attract the attention OF the
medical profession everywhere.
"On the morning of November 90
1871, at about IL o'clock, I swallow.
ed nearly. if not quite, one grain Of
strychnine, which had been in my
possession since the 10th inst. I was
sitting on the side of the bed in the
second story back room, in which
apartment l have slept since l have
occupied the house. I took the pow
der, dry. from the paper, and held ii
in. my mouth until it had become
moistened with spittle, when swal-
lowed it; walked to the table and
drank glass of water; went into the
room over the kitchen, and hid the
paper in which the poison had bee,
and then went down stairs, where ]
took a seat in rocking chair in front
of the stove. In the course of five
minutes l began to feel slight cramps
in the calves of my legs. My wife
was sitting by the table, sewing, anG
| asked her for couple of crackers
which she gave me. The cramps had
by this time increased to intensity
and extended to the feet and thighs
causing the most intense pain.
asked if there was an egg about til,
house, and being answered in the af
firmative, told my wife to break i
and give it to me raw. She then sus
pected that I had taken something
ANA Degan To question me ciosel,
about it.
II expected soon to be in eternit,
and thought that no human powe
could avail-to save my life so I TOLD
her what I had done. She immedi
ately raised an alarm, and Mr.. job,
Hoyer came in, followed by severa
other neighbors. The egg was give,
me, beside a large quantity of warn
salt wateDand strong ten, and mes
senger was sent for DR.. Coover.
"About the time 1 called for til,
egg, l attempted to rise from til,
chair, but fell to the floor with con
WILSON'S in the lower extremities
which became violent on the least at
tempt to move; and the feet wer,
both drawn in toward each other, be
coming stiff and immovable, save n
the occasional convulsAns shopl
them. Unsuccessful attempts wer,
made to battle them in hot water
each effort to raise me bringing on
violent paroxysm, in the last one o
which thought my jaws had be
come unhinged. was now perfect
ly paralyzed from the hips down, an,
suffering the most excruciating pain
which began to extend upward; til,
muscles Of the shoulders and necl
soon being considerably conyulsed
the forear,ns still being free from
pain. 3
| 81 now babe my wife goodbye
and prepared for the final struggl,
which / knew must be near at hand
as I now had become rigid from TIN
neck down, save the forearm. TIL,
commissions of the muscles were be
coming fearful, and the torture awfu
to endure. And now came on a ire