The New York herald., 1877-03-02
NARCOTICS OR MALARIA.


NARCOTICS OR MALARIA.
A MYSTERY WHICH SCIENCE HAS FAILED TO
SOMEWHAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF THE
FOUR EPILEPTICs?
The causes of the death OF four epilepcs at Black
wells Island time since, which have puzzled the
members OF the medical profession who sought In.
yestgate te them. and which seem likely 10 remain in
doutt were yesterday the object Of inquiry at tho
Coroncr's Office. Numbers OF medical gentlemen occu-
pied the seats in the room wacn Coroner Croker ap-
peared and had tho roll oil jury called, which
likewise composed solely OF professional men, II VIII
be remembered that the Of four deaths in
ono day with similar sympt oms awakened a suspicion
of poisoning, which Deputy Coroner MacWhInnies
examination tended 10 strengthen chemical
analysis was determined upon aud this before a other
evidence was submitted to tho jury.
The testimony OF DR.. R.A wnthaas, who mado tho
analysis was us follows He stated that January 16
jar said TO contain portions OF the vscera OF Margaret
Poth, patient VINO had died at the Eplcptic hos.
ptal was lett IN his laboratory by Deputy Coroncr
Macw minnie, who instructed HIM to make an analysis
and search for every possible poison. In
cordancc with these instructions he took every
prccaution 10 place tho jar whero 1t could
not DO disturbed, and on the following
day he began the analysis; the organs and the con-
tents the stomach contained the jar divided
into equal parts by weight part to be used in
the search IMMORAL poisons Tho other for organic
posons; OF tho organs presented tho charac.
terstic odor observed oil poisoning by choro
form or prussic acid. these posons not sought
Tor aud as the coats OF the stomach did not present
the alterations inevitably present of poisoning
by strong mineral acids and akacs these poisons
were also out OF the question; an analysis was
o cs ,r.oo ade was 0 Ds search for or
grIic poisons also failed 10 detect any
except SIN all gobue OF mercury, which, being cacu
lalod at onc-tenth the entire amount in the whole
body, would account Tor a dose cquivalent 10 one
twentieth OF grain OF calomel three dfeths or
grain OF corrosive sublimate, neither quantity being
sufficiently large TO cause death; The result OF Tho
analysis, therefore, did not indicate the existence or
character OF any poison in sufficient quantities TO
Thomas Naylor, NJ. D., being sworn, said IL am
Resident Physician at tho Ep,lopc Hospital Black
wells Island; knew the deceased, eonla D. Merrill,
Amelia Lope, Margaret Poth and Caroline Gardner;
they were patients In the Epileptic Hospital and
wore inmates OF the same pavilion; they had been
there at variable periods-six months, eight months
from epilepsy OF chrome CHARACTER; on the 10Th OF
January Leonia Merrill and Amelia l.ope were
attacked with symptoms as
cold, and upon standing up, trembling; they were put
bed and put under stimulating treatment and again
seen in hour; found general muscular relaxation;
could aroused with difficulty, and could then answer
quesions ono hour alter that, or two hours alter the
tracted, but no stertorous breathing; sur
face OF body cold puse slow and iee-
peculiar snor Catching and prolonged
expiration; thcy remained IN this condition until
death, which took place IN case OF Amelia Tops a. Two
four A. NJ on the 11th on the night Of the 10Th,
about ten P. NJ, Margaret Poth was attacked with
Merrill and Amelia Tope and became comatose.
and on the evening OF tho ION Caroline
differing from the Others first being attacked
with epieptic convusion, and this CONFUSION was
followed by coma Margaret Roth died at six A. NJ Of
the llin aud Caroline Gardener died at haIipas ono
NJ. OF tho 18th. THIS last patient had two epieptic
commissions previous to death after the second attack
the symptoms became identical with the others. Pro-
vous these several attacks the patients were up
ana around and appeared to oe in Their usual
ncr other treatment, taking morpha, onc-eighth
OF grain three times day. and she had taken three
dosos NO bot the regular had access TO the
medicines used the pavilion; there two nurses In
charge during the day but no regular nurses are IN
charge al night: two workhouse women are detailed
at night: have suffered from dizziness and nausea,
as have several others; somo in the iunatc asylum
| have suffered IN tho same way.
visiting phyacian Of The Epeptic and Paraytc Hos
pital on Backwcll's Island; l knew the deceased
women tho deaths seeming peculiar investigated the
case thoroughly possible, so far us tho medicine
and ui0t was could not 1nd thing In
'Janewav gaauv ~ to como up and consult with mo; he
| did SO. and two of the bodies examined; ono
OF them had an enlarged spleen aud in the other tho
spleen was normal; the other conditions tho same
as those found tho examined ut Bellevue; was
then Judged proper refer the investigation as 10 the
cause OF death 40 the Coroner; have formed q
very strong opinion to the causes Of death; think
IL was due to malaria influence, but what can
not positively say; the pavons are situated ON made
ground, and beneath these pavilions IL quantity Of
| filthy muck
Edward q. Janeway, M. d., stated that some time
| ago Dr. Hamilton invited him TO come 10 tho EpieptiC
Hospital to consult with HIM as to the cause of the
death OF several patients thcrc tho postmortem ap
pearnnces satisfactorily account Tor death, and
the symptoms presented by patients seemed TO me to
point to some narcotic poison, and advised that the
cases be referred to the Coroner for investigation
have heard the testimony lar In this case, and
feel suspect that narcotic poison caused
| the death.
! Alter an absence OF about twenty minutes tho jury
rendered the verdict that the deceased had come "a
their deaths from causes unknown to the jury but the
weight of evidence strongly In favor OF narcotic
poisoning