The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-15
SOCRATES SECOND.

| THE HEMLOCK- POISONING CASE
TESTIMONY OF THE PHYSICIANS WHO TREATED
| THE PATIENT WHO DICTATED HIS sYMP'
TOMS WHILE DYING FROM AN OVERDOSE CT
| CoNIUM.
Concerning the case of hemlock poisoning
in Brooklyn sl.eady reported in the SeDti-
mel, the New York Sun has these conditional
details: The case of f. w. Walker, the
electrician. who died from draught OF hem
lock which he took on Saturday as a rem
edy for spasms of the facial muscles and the
tNitching of the eye lids, which were the re-
suit of an accident in New York in 1871,
| was the talk among medical men in New
York and Brooklyn yesterday. Coroner
Simms received telegram from DIR. Seguin
asking him to spare no pains TO make a
thorough investigation in the interest of
science. An inquest was begun in the att
ernoon in DIR. Walkers parlor, at 300
State street. The jurors were Dr. b.
A. Segur superintendent of the board of
health; David ChaUncey, president of the
Mechanics Bank; DR.. a. N. Bell, editor of
the Sauitarian; Samuel Booth, ex-post-
master; j. J.. StudWell. Alderman Ripley
Ropes, ID. d. Whitney, William Richardson,
DIR. Albert Yickers, and w. p. Libby, presi-
dent of he Brooklyn City Gaslight Com
pany. They viewed the body, which was
laid out in the coffin, the handsome face
bearing the serene expression that the slim
ulsting and fatal poison gave To 1t in the last
moments of life. Drs. Webster and Agnew
noticed the similarity of the death to that of
Socrates and Phocion, and especially to that
of the former, inasmuch as he drank the
poison and spoke to bis disciples up to the
last moment, and the dead electrician
uttered the passing symptoms of his ap-
preaching end to his wife, the only known
IL foL, z HQ xgiofi
themselves until death closed their lips.
Other physicians deny that
THE POISON THAT SOCRATES DRANK
was the same that was taken by Mr.. Walker.
Mrs. Aida Walker, who wrote down the
record of her husbands approaching death,
testified to the facts as they were related in
yesterdays Sun. She said that after 5:15 p.
NJ no hemlock was taken, and that alter
that for an hour he slowly made known his
symptoms as he exporter ced them. For a
year he had been troubled with phostOplio-
bia, fear of light, and diplopia. double sight.
The directions for taking the hemlock were
given to him by DR.. Squibh, from whom he
purchased IL, and her husband said before
be took it that DR.. Webster had told him in
detail all OF the symptoms of its action, and
when to cease taking it. She had not the
slightest apprehension that the drug might
prove fatal. Her husband had never COM
planned of the ordinary disease that might
end in sudden death. When his symptoms
grew worse she tried to give him some coffee.
He lay his head in her arms and made one
quick motion and was dead. He died shortly
after half past six. DIR. Webster, of 10 East
Thirty ninth street, detailed his acquaint- |
ance with Mr.. Walker, which began in 1887, |
in the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, |
where Mr.. Walker, who was then SO years
old, and a special agent of the Mutual Life
Insurance Company, went to have his eyes /
treated for diplOpia. After the accident, to |
the affection of the eyes was added the
blepharo facial spasms, which not only in |
terfered with his sight, but produced hid |
eous deformity of his whole face. Dr.. Brown
SeQuard failed to do him good with the |
moxs, and DIR. Webster determined on a |
cautious trial of hemlock, which was ap-
proved by foreign physicians. He says OF
last Saturday: I'm order to watch the effect, |
L asked him to come to my Office on the
morning of April 3. at 1925 o'clock gave
40 drops of
EN- EXTRACT OF CoNIUM.
At 1850 gave 40 drops more without any
effect whatever. At 11:l6 gave 40 drops
more, and still no effect. At IL As gave 60
drops. He remained in the Office about an
hour and a half after the last dose. We
spent the time ip cOnversation, and just be- |
fore he went away he showed me some
up as he did so to apply the poles of the bat !
terry to my face. After an hour and half |
he lett, convincing me that either the ex-
tract which he had taken was inert or that !
from long use of nerve remedies, he had &C
quired the power of resisting their effects. |
We discussed the pbyslolOg cal effects of
and / warned Mr.. Walker to stop |
the use of the drug the moment !
he felt the effects coming on. 1 gave
him prescription on which was writ
ten FLUID extract conil, one or" and |
signed my name to it. / told him to see DIR.
Squibbs himself and tell him just how
many drops ne had taken in my Office. |
told him TO stop taking the medicine as
soon as he felt any muscular relaxation, dir
illness, numbness, or other physiological
effects of the drug. Mr.. Walker spoke OF
death, and said that be understood |
that the taking of hemlock was a very
pleasant way 10 die. He did not seem de-
pressed in spirits, was willing TO trust
MIN with the drug because he was of un-
usual intelligence. l never gave hemlock |
but once before in similar case, and then
to an infant, which was troubled with pho
tophobia. My treatment was concurred in
by DIR. Agnew. Death from Eemlock is
occasiOned by
PARALYSIS OF THE SPINAL MARROW.
1t does not affect the intelligence until the
last stages. would not, as a rule, consider |
it safe to allow a patient to take the medi- |
cine unless prescribed in small doses, unless
a physician was with him. 1 told him to |
take the dose DIR. Squibbs prescribed, as the |
dose varies with the extract. DR.. G. r. Ag- |
new corroborated the testimony of his part |
ner, DIR. Webster, and added that he heard |
the conversation about the use of hemlock |
and the warning to stop taking it as soon as
he noticed any effect on his muscles, stom
ach, head, or elsewhere. He felt justified in /
using hemlOck for the extreme case he had /
in Mr.. Walker. He believed that Mr.. |
Walker had an appreciation of the danger of
the drug. DIR. Agnew explained that the
drug is intoxicating in some degree, and
like brandy, leads on from one draught TO |
another, and in this way he accounted for |
taking an overdose contrary to bis know |
ledge and judgment. The inquest was ad |
j0urned until next Monday. A council of
medical man are To make a rooat rnnrtam ax- |