New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-06
PROF. WALKERS DEATH.
INTELLECT THE MASTER OF PAIN.

INTELLECT THE MASTER OF PAIN.
fuF CogoNER's INvKsTIGATIoN-THR SYMPTOMS OF
POISONING DESCRIBED by THE DYING MANTLE
rALAI RESULT CAUSED BY NEGLECT OF THE
PHYSICIANS CAUTIONS.
The inquest upon the death Of Prof. Frederic
Walker No 800 states Brooklyn, was held yestcr
day Coroner Sims conducted the hearing. William r.
Libby, DIR. A. ". Bell editor OF The Sanifdr'dn; Dr.
vickers ex-Alderman Richardson DIR. segan, ana Dr.
ID. d. Whitney led TO view the body, ana sworn
rs jurors In the case The face Of the late Prof walker
preserved remarkably calm pleasant expression, and
there were no signs the terrible struggles and suher
ing which ho had endured for so many years. AFTER
viewing the body the jury returned TO the parors ana
there the inquest begun. DIR. Edward IL.
eauibb, tho chemist; DR.. C. r Agncw, the
oculist; DR.. websteL and other prominent ec'en-
tito ana business mon were In attendance
nlling the rooms The family earnestly requested that
. post norton examination might not be made. They
declared that they were satisfied that Mr. Walker had
died Of the effects OF conium (hemock) and that they
should resist any interference with the remaps' Di
Aguew, Dr. SQuibb Dr.. Bell and Others urged toa'
post-mortem examination was extremely necessary
Prof Walker had died Saturday afternoon, WITHIN an
hour after administering to himself large quantity OF
laid extract OF hemlock 1t apparent, they said
that the hemlock had perhaps been direct agent in
causing DEATH as chloroform might be in dentists
chair; but whether there not rredisposlng ana
neculiar eauses i'm his system could not evident
Coroner Sims decided not to make postmortem eXaio
nation, however and the witnesses were cxamincd.
Mrs Aida L. Walker testified that she was the WIDOW
of the late Frederic W. Walker Saturday afternoon
last Mr. Walker came home and said that ne had Just
come from Dr. C. R. Agnews office; he had been taxing
eonum, be added bat IL had had no eheet upon iii"
Dr. Webster Dr. Aguew's assistant, had ADVISED nm W
60 10 Dr. slubbs factory and get more trustworthy
preparation OF the drug; he bad got the preparauon'
hi 10 g,,vao f.lx
walker asked her husband whether he had better not
take some nourishment he replied that he Ito ight he
had better not because he believed that the medicine
would have better effect upon an empty stomach; nc
was 10 take so drops each half hour until the results ex
pected were obtained; Mrs. Walker gave her husband
phe drops at 410 and them at his direction.
took paper and pencil and wrote at his dctation the
feelings experienced he told me that Dr. Agnew had
requested him this tho memorandum read as fol
lows:
4lO took 80 nu' squbts fud eI'rac, Of eOnum Them
local 44o effect very decided 10 e1.ues. fasnOn o. d
power control movements forced 70 ne down b9
spch en0g heayns Ia top and back part oil
5 ~ so droO. e% mo at base of
.,e. am in zero. the o s9 & sDC'' INC No
5.25 D. m Grossine,s, Inclined 10 sleep - ~
M ss S ss 10 r SSa C1Se ,sI5
% sa asa 10 usoeou e throat pulse sSoa CO. Il in
part
Mr. Walker felt his own pulse 10 ascertain the num-
Der OF beats minute and his wife marked tue time Tor
him. After he became unable TO articulate he made
signs that he wished have his collar looscned He
also signded that he was thirsty. Mrs. Walker
brought him cup OF coffee but ne was unable TO drina
IT, lie could swallow. Mr.. Walkers so ncane In soon
afterward and Mr. Walker sgnifed that he wished to
have electricity applied. He had used electricity
great deal for the paralysis Of the facial muscles, aud
had made business ofsapplYing 1t TO others He was
Ivan np
daic current. He sIgnifed that he would have the
Fsradac. The battery taken up to him, and be i'll
dcsed that he wished one pole TO be applied 10 tie
back neck One OF the electrodes was placed as
desired and attempted TO take the other in his hand
but dropped 1t, being unable TO hold II. MIS- walker
then raised him in her arms. He made an attempt to
say something and fell back suddenly, dead His sons
ran for physicians when they told Mrs Walker that
her husband dead she could not believe them She
had perfect confidence in what he had assured hcr-
that the medicine was not dangerous. Prof Walker
took the medicine TO correct the spasms OF his
tr es a minute. Prof. Walker was G5 years Of age
al d good health. / don't believe that he mad tue
taking another dose OF the preparation at $40 mr. half
an hour after he had taken the last previous dose he
he received the instructions for taking the medicine
from Dr. squibb. Prof Charles f. Brown.sequard had
been treating him for more than year. Then lie again
came under DIR. Agnews charge. No.. -,,.,,
10 answer to question by Dr. Bell. Mrs Walker said
With rheumatism. She had never known Of his having
palptaton of the heart or being troubled with short
ness Of breath while going upstairs.
DR.. David Webster OF NO lS East Thirty nnth-st ties
t,tod that he Prof. C. r Agnews assistant first
saw Prof Walker, he said in The Manhattan Eve and
Ear InfrmaTy, IN August, 1873. lie was then suffering
from paralysis which was very distress
be could not for hours He was given letter to Dr.
Brown sequard, who treated ProI. Walher Tor nearly
eonvusive winkng OF the right eve, with extreme di
internal rectus muscle. Prof Walker was struck by
truck pole in the temple. and being kpockod down, the
forward wheels passed his arm crushing it. The
patient said that he had used many remedies including
electricity and injections under the skin OF preparations
Of strychnia and imOrphia. The Ophthalmascope
revealed marked changes in The structure the
eve. There a slight stOphylOma post tccuu COM
the retna Prof Walker said that he had been stabbed
IN the abdomen In the the kuite passing through
After Dr. Brown-sequird went Europe, Prof Walker
came 10 the Hospital again. Although he vas free
Agnew's Office There had been little amelioraon OF the
b. pho 70 facial spasI3s.
Dr. Webster continued recommended that the ex-
tract Of cOnuin be tried and asked Prof Walker
90 my Office April o. 1875, at 10 25 o. M He came, aud
a. drops preparation obtained at Caswell Hazards
drug store was administered. At 1880 40 drops
Given. At II 10 a. NJ % more, and at IL AS
60 drops were given. During this time Prof
Walker remained IN the Office aud the drug he had
taken caused change in his feelings There were
external symptoms OF action OF the drug After
hour and half he departed In our conversation We
discussed the physiological action of homiock Prot.
walker aSSed a great many Questions; ana seemed
thoroughly TO appreciate and compreht nd the danger Of
usDg the remedy. gave Inn prescription for ole
ounce DR.. squibbs ad extract OF coniun and told
him 10 act upon Dr. squ5b's directions in taking the
Crug. / particularly charged Prot Walker, over aud
an. 10 stop taking the remedy the moment re
felt any effect OF the drug such as muscular relaxation
or vertigo While he In the Office read TO him all
that 10 published about cOnium In tho United States
DispensatOry. l do not regard cOnum q dangerous
remedy when carefully administered. gave chIld
under two years OF age ten drops and afterwar
drops OF the same preparation That gave Prof Walker,
without effect.
Prof. C. r. Agnew. NJ. D.. Of No 10 East Thirty
st New York, testified tat he Prof. walker first in
the Autumn OF 1873. lie said l sent him Prof.
quard. aud ho under treatment for lOug
time few months aftcrward Prof. BrownSequard
went 10 EuroDe. and Walker