The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-09
ADRUoGIsrs FATAL BLUNDER.
Prussic Acid Instead Of Prussiate Of Potash
A WeIl-K nowu Citizen Poisoned,


The entire community was shocked yes
terday when 1t learned OF the sndden and unex-
pected death Of Mic jan II Hey, prominent
IN Cincinnati For several years past Mr.. u Hey,
being advanced In years, had been suffering
from the preuonitory symptoms OF BriRhts
stantly taking medicine. For nve years be bad
been under the treatment Of DIR. Laoaree
Ing iayoraDiy until last Friday, when he
was summoned 70 set as a pal bearer
PuGh. On that occasion he strained his back in
liftius the cOfin aud this, coupled with bis
predisposition to kidney troubles, required MIN
to I ks to his bed on Saturday, since which
time, until yesterday morning. he suffered much
pain ana fever. The doctor left Mr.. Bailey
comparatively comfortable when he vIsiteo him
at O'Clock yes erday morning, and with every
prospect OF aspeedy recovery. The prescription
he left for his patient should have procured for
him an ounce 81 the prussiate Of potash dis
solved In four iuid ounces OF water. OF this
solution, tablespoonful was to be taken every
The gentleman despatched to have the pre-
sctiption nlled was a friend Of the druggist NJ
streets, August Il. Woesten, and consequently
went to his store. The prescription was written
IN English. to avoid the possibility OF any error.
for reasons which will hereaf er appear. In due
time II was Allied, taken home, dose admiDis-
into convulsions When DIR. Lsbaree arrived,
Mr. Bailey WIS conscious. but onlv remarked,
"Weii. doctor, | am IA dead man. and relapsed
into "A Al ate OF INCONSISTENCIES, from which ho
never recovered. He died In about an hour.
When DR.. LaDaree first entered tue room he
called for the medicine bottle. lie saw by Its
color that IL was not the medicine he had or
dered. lie tasted IL, and almost ike a flash %
lightning the true state Of AFFAIRS rushed upon
his mind. The peculiar taste Of bitter almonds
warned min at once tina Prussic acid. one Of
the most deadly poisOns, was Que Of the ingre-
dents Of the mixture.
Dr. Labaree took the bottle Of medicine to
Woesten's drug store, and asked to he SHOWN
the bottle from which the druggist had hled
the prescription. IL was unhesitatinRlv shown
him, and ii vast as the Doctor suspected, LABEL
led Cyanide OF pOtassa.
The prescription was on file, and when the
DRUGGISTS attention was called to the words
"urussitte Of potash" he recognized his fatal
error, turned deadly pale, and tretnbled hike an
aspen leaf. II may here be necessary to expiain
to those not familiar with che meal terms the
difference between the two drugs. The prussi-
ate of potash, a medicine To general use, 10 not
an active poison. and can be taken la such doses,
In solution. as any man would be likely
to take without any bad results. The Latin
name given to this drug by the United States
PnarmacopBlt IA ferrocyantde OF potassi-
um." he cyanide 81 pot lssium IA most ylru-
lent poison. containing a large amount OF n.y.
drucyanic. or prussIc ACID. One grain OF tue
cyanide Is sum sient Ia cause death, while an
ounce OF the terrocyanide would hardly have
thHt result. he common, or English name Of
the ferrucNanide is prus-iate OF potash -
hence the doctors caro- in writing u In plain
English, lest It might be contounded With the
cyanide.
The druggists explanation OF the fatal error Il
that when he read the words ''prussiate OF not
ash" he turned to the index Of the United States
Dispens tory TO learn the Latin q, IA drug
gists are more ftmiiiar with the Latin name Of
English. Having ascertained thai /, was the
ferrucv ntde, ne made the mistake OF taking
the cyanide to 1ll the prescription, not for the
moment thinking q the vast difference between
Coroner Maley proceeded to the drug store,
secured the bottle q poison aud the prescrip-
ton. aud ordered WOcsteu uuder arrest. lie
was admitted to bail Ia the sum OF 81 600, his
father going on the bona.