The New York herald., 1878-11-23
THE LEVINE SUICIDE.
A NOTE FROM DIR. WILSON.

To THE EDITOR HKRALD:-
In common justice claim the floor" to answer
points advanced in your editorial of day Fri
day. in reference to the Levine suicide. You
have the impression that the friends of the young
man saw him deliberately swallow large dose OF
laudanum without making any effort to hinder
prevent You also say. Even the doctor is reported
as believing that his was . proper one"
The HERaLp's reputation for mpartality and
fairness foroids my supposing that it would wilfnlly
give tho community wrong impression in reference
to what is all concerned sufficiently painful ease
even when freed from the extranoous matter which
fancy or misconception has attached TO 1t. No one
really TO blame-the ladies' and gentlemen in the
house having done all that was possible to avert the
fatal result. What are the facts Briefly these. A
young man was suspected of having taken
poison, and, when charged with it. seemed to admit
the fact No one had it taken. hence 40
opportunity for prevention. so tar the friends were
innocent. Immediately OF the gentlemen ran out
into the cold night to seek phys So earnest il
he on his errand OF mercy that he onits the clothing
necessary 10 his own safety. Through the chilly
night he sped until he found doctor who would re-
turn with him. SO far hold these friends had done
whit they could. The case was now in the pfysi-
clans charge. and II blame must tall let il fail on him
and not on those who had done the best they knew
Now. as regards the medical man. what his dutyg
Obviously 10 save the patients life If possible.
Imagine the conditions Of the case. Instead OF
finding the patentn state OF helplessness stupor,
the physician is met by man, calm, cool and wide
awake who expresses surprise at the visit and de-
mands explanation. Had he really taken poisoms
Cursory examination showed he had taken some
preparation OF opium. but that more effects
produced than ordinarily results from medicinal
dose Of the drug. Two hours or more
since swallowing poisonous dose of drug
which usually acts 50 promptly anu little
no effect produced and such effect
not apparently increasing but rather the reverse,
naturally suggested the idea that all parties. including
the patient himself, had been mistaken in the alc
OF the dose or that the Young trying to get
up sensation a.. indeed his cvity seemed t0 indi
cate However. treatment operative interference
pcremptorily declined Two alternatives were
left-summon force and Compel submission to
tidotal treatment to possibly fatal dose,
taking all contingent and objective evil
dencc, conclude the case was not
serious and that the patient had not carried out
his boast In adopting the latter view subsequent
events showed erred, but 1t error caused by
peculiar conditions and surroundings which might
have deceived any physician. The effects OF thee drug
.. r., the poisonous ecctscanie all ut once. and so
overwhelmingly 10 set all salvatory attempts ut
defiance, although these continued through two
hours. by publishing this explanation You viii
Oblige one who IL willing to face any responsibility
which justly falls upon him In his professional life,
HENRY H. WILSON, NJ. -,
No ggj West Twenty ty-sccond street.