The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-29
4 Utica, NY Doctor Takes His
Dose, Of Prussic Acid-.llOW 10
ShnmeA OF the Mortal Coli I'd e.
acenliy aud In Order.
From the Utica Observer

sAC "AOa sdi OOitSD ~
Gently ppd In Order. \
Ea From the Utica Observer.)
DR.. Napohou Palmer, all eclectic ply.
sician, ,comgiitted suicide at his residence,
No:36 Brooklyn avenue, last night by
taking a dose Of diluted prussic acid
For six months past he has been subject
to periodical attacks of great mental de-
spondency, more observable during the
lasttwo months,ana particularly noticea:
bleby his wife YESTERDAY His depres-
sion was att ibutedto the fact that two of
his sisters were sent to the Insane Asy-
lum He attended to his professional du-
ties yesterday, however, and at about s 80
in the evening he called at MI! Joseph A
Benjamin's drug store, No 493 Tomp-
kins avenue, and inquired If he had any
hydrocyanic acid. MIR. Benjamin replied
that he had nothing isutthe diluted or me
dicinal,and was ,oldby Doctor Palmer to
put up one ounce of that. The doctor
said thatheiwas in a hurry las he wanted
the dose for, a patient, Mr.. Benjamin
said that he had not got a whole ounce,
and Dr.. Palmer told him
ss.ft HALF, AN OUNCE ,.., -.. ,t
Wculd do. He poured out all but half a
fluid ounce, and gave DR.. Palmer the bot
tie, which bears the following label: "Hy-
drocyanic acid, diluted, l o. (Prussc
acid.) Powers & Weightman, Philadel-
phia." On receiving the drug. DR.. Pal
mer returned immediately home, and, bid
ding his wife goodnight, retired to his
room. She went up stairs few minutes
after, and was requested by her husband
to take down stairs glass which was on
the bureau.f 1t had few drops Of color
less liquid in it, which attracted the atten-
ton OF her son, who said it was acid. On
Fastening to the door of the doctors
room he was heard breathing heavily =
The son ran for physician, and the wife
and her sister entered the room. DR..
Palmer called for ice, and his sister in law
placed piece in his mouth. He said
nothing further, and expired shortly be-
fore medical attendant arrived.
NOT MORE THAN TEN MINUTES INTERVIEWED
Between the time of his taking the poison
and his death.
This morning Coroner Sims held an
inquest, and, the above facts being .devel-
oped, the jury returned a verdict oil
"Death from an overdose of prussic acid
administered by his own hand in mo.
mentary state Of insanity" H,i s'r -
THE EFFECTS OF pRUssIc AciD ON MAN.
This morning the body of the deceased
presented q most natural appearance, and
so completely had the effects of the vola
tile fluid passed away that it was stated
by the Coroner that it was doubtful if a
post-mortem would reveal the eacause ot
DEATH A slightodor ofprussic acid was
recognizable in, the room in which DR..
Palmer died, similar TO that arising from
the kernels Of peach stones, which are full
of hydrocyanic acid. Prussic acid, owir 9
to its rapid and unerring effects when ia
ken even in comparatively small doses. is
one Of the most formidable poisons with
which medical science is acquainted. 1t
has acquired a fatal celebrityasqa means
of selt-murder, and several instances are
quoted in which the acid was mingled
with sherry wine and given to the victim
Even the vapor5is mpst.dapgerous,a land in
duces dizziness, stupor, Inability to stand
and faintness. Taylor states that when a
large dose, as from half, an ounce to an
ounce, Of the concentrated acid is taken,
the symptoms may commence during the
act of swallowing, or within few Sec
onds. tits rare thattheir appearance is
delayed beyond one or two minutes
When the patient has been seen at this pc.
riod he has been perfectly insensible, the
eyes fixed, prominent and glistening, the
pupils dilated and unaffected by light, the
limbs placid, the jaws fixed, 7;t
FRoTHING AT THE MOUTH,
The skin cold and covered with clammy
perspiratien there is convulsive respira.
ton at long intervals, and tile patient ap,
pears dead in the intermediate time; the
pulse is imperceptible; and Involuntary
excavations are occasionally passed. The
respiration is slow. deep, gasping, and
sometimes heaving, sobbing and convul.
sive. Death takes place in from four
minutes to one hour from the time of ia.
king the poison. Commissions do not al.
ways follow the dose. On the contrary,
the patient passes off calmly, as if falling
into deep sleep, All in all, prussic acid
is the most rapid and pleasant poison to
take for ending ones life. a reference
to the above symptoms will remove any
necessity of inquiring Of a druggist its
effect upon the human system. Suicide
from prussic acid can never become com
mon, nor beIesorted to by the poor as {
means Of suicide. on account Of the diff
Guilty ofprocuring the article,as the drug
gists exercise extra caution in'its sale.