The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-09
DOCTOR EVERTS'S MISTAKE.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH
MRS. CARPENTER DIED.
The Wrong Vial Left for her Husbnnd-A
Fatal Dose orstrychnine-The Agony ofthe
Patient aud the Remorsc OF the Physician.

From he Rabtorf sn,
DR.. I. II. Everts Of this place tRushford.
Fillmore Co. Mimi has written the following:
BY request oi, Mr.; Carpenter-the delicate
md cOnsidcfntc Kindness OF whose behavior
toward me- since the unsrcakably painful ncci-
lent Of Wednesday commands n gratitude can
never eXpress-l make Tor us both statement
of the exact facts connected with tho calamity
that has filled his household with sorrow and
Mrs. Carpenter, for several years sufferer
from ailment not satisfactorily diagnosed by
any Of numerous medical men consuted-was
eeized with acute symptoms OF obscure origin,
but not at first supposed to be competed with
the old trouble about the middle OF july, Since
that time. though not before Tor several years,
/ had been treating her with alternate hopc and
announcement for us both. untll about Il week
before her death when, with the full knowledge
and consent OF herself and husband. began
giving her sirychnia, using Ia. solution known
rs liquor strychnT. {. 5. T.. which is the safest
form for administration of that powerful drug
IA drug. let 1t be remarked. than which There
is no other Of equal power more safe, more use
full or more frequently used by all branches Of
the profession. Under its use the patient
seemed rapidly to improve In many respects
and though by no means convalescent we were
all encouraged to pcrsevere with the remedy.
The doses had been carefully dropped out of
= yial-containing Liquor Strychnie' one
half strength duly labelled and left at the house
first by a reliable friend and .nurse-Mrs.
Benedict-and on her departure by myself at
Mrs. Capenter's particular request preparing
at each visit only doses enough b. last until the
next. rs the effect was being carefully watched
and doses regulated accordingly. The doses
n small vial. and were diluted tnnt a tea
spoonful should contain the required amount
vigiant and knowing what She was s taxing. and
no one save intelligent adults being inmates OF
the house. no danger could be apprehended
from the method of admin stration.
On Wednesday, at about noon. made my
visit, found the vial of stronger solution empty.
and brought the other vial away with me. prom
ising TO prepare more ready for uss ana leave
1t on the office table for Mr.. Carpenter. as WIS
going Immediately into the country. | went
dirptt m Office found the vial which |
carry liquor strychniR undiluted empty
stepped into the drug store adjoining and filed
dropped-instead Of measuring because had
been measuring by drops Ut tile house-iust 50
drops: the calculation was for 90. and stopped
ono short OUT OF care. into the empty vial
brought from Carpenters. which. by an unpre-
ceedented and fatal coincidence. was precisely
like the one which has been for many years in u
buggy-case carried by both myself and partner
wrote Mr.; Carpenters name and continue
the treatment and left II standing on tho Office
table. returned the other vial with the labelled
cork to the buggy case and carried 1t twelve
hapd az ave Scbnn,ed no orts and tb "a iai
was handling.
After my departure Mr.. Carpenter went to
The Office. found the vial rs promised took IL
home. and nj the regular hour gave his wife the
usual teaspoonfu! OF liquor strychniP. ofiicinal
strength In other words. half a grain OF
strychnine in perfect solution. She immedi-
ately complained that 1t was much stronger
than that she had been taking. and said she
take any more. Mr.. Carpenter thought moth
ing Of this NJ first. but as she continued to COM
plain apprehensively. he, became anxious and
carried the vial back To- the olice. expecting 10
see my partner. DR.. Grover. DR. Grover was
sick AT his house. Carpenter visited him there,
and explained his anxiety. showing the vial and
requesting him oNlst Mrs. Carpenter at once.
The Doctor tasted the solution. thought II rather
strong; but as a weak solution is still intensely
bitter. believed there could be no mistake. said
as much. and as the patient had felt no actual
effect on Carpenters leaving. he tthe Doctor
feeling unable to walk. declined TO CO. On Mr.
Carpenters return TO the mouse his wife was
dead.
perlenced SpaSins which returned a second and
third time. when she eNpired-ahout half an
hour after taxing the fatal dose. This WAS 6 so
In the afternoon. On my return from the coun-
from DR.. Grover-What had occurred during
my absence.
vials was ~ clear to my mind the instant he
and opened the case there stood the vial with
lq strych on the cork perfectly full / stag
gered the weary half mile To Carpenters house
and asked the watchers for that VIAL Mr..
Carpenter had taken II up stairs with him. and
requested them to send me up II came. Mr..
Frank smith lighted me up 10 Mr.. Carpenters
room. ! found the vial. and 1t WAS two tea
spoonfus short Of full. Mrs. CARPENTER had
taken only one teaspoonful tasted II. and
detected the acid and alcohol used in the strong
solution. II was all mechanical; knew 1t be-
fore.
was born in doctors house and brought
smos; from chdhood have nave practised medi
cine Just quarter of a century-dispensn my
own prescriptions entirely until recently. What
errors OF Ignorance and errors IN judgment |
may have committed God only knows. So far
as / know and believe. this is the first error
in manipulation / ever committed SO rs in the
matter-so much the less excuse for committing
this"