Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-19

In our press dispatches Monday we an.
aounced the death of Mrs. Jones p. yeaz;e
OF Bangor. through the mistake of a DING.
gist In putting up rank poison to fill pre.
,sc1iption, instead Of the proper medicine.
me Following is a more extended account of
.he SAD event: The death was entirely unex-
pected, as the lady had only been affected by
shsnt attack OF rheumatism, and her physi-
ciah. Dr. Simmons. had prescribed simple
alkaline, citrate of potassium-for medicine
me prescription was written bv the doctor
ABOUT April LIST, and the box has been refiIled
win the powder several times since All.
went well until Saturday noon, when Mr.. \.
.. Harlow, the druggist, filled the box with
inherent powder, namely-cyanide of potas
SUM. He supposed. of course, that he had
put up the right prescription. and thought
nothing Of it until apprsed of the dangerous
turn IN Mrs. Veazie's case; SUNDAY fore
noon at . 30 Mrs. Veazie took the
usual dose, about ten grains of the powder
SEM; It's action was almost instantaneous.
ahe, becoming unconscious, she died in
ahout half an hour. During the ladv'. I'm.
conscious period, several physicians were
telephoned for, and arrived just before death
took lace, but they were unable to decide
having no suspicion of the nature of the
powder which the patient had taken
whether sthe cause of the prostration was
apopiexy or something else. Investigation
ana analysis showed the mistake, and re-
veaied the nature of the powder-cyanide of
potassium. DIR. Harlow was terribly affected
when he saw his mistake; it was a simple
error; and mistakes are liable to be made in
various trades, and for which there is little
explanation. The two powders resemble
tI,xu
quite fine. When the druggist put up the
prescription, Saturday noon, he was very
busy, and for once failed to glance at the in
scrlption on the bottle for the second time,
as Is usual, when he placed it back on the
shelf. The dose was enough to cause the
death OF two or three persons. Citrate of
potassium and cyanide kept in all drug
stores. The first is an alkaline and is used
to a considerable extent. The latter is a
chemical. not used in medicine, but ~ pho
tographers and silver platers in their work.
According to the statements Of several lead
Ing druggists there is nothing in the statutes
regulating the manner of keeping poisons in
drug store, nor prescribing any particular
part of the store for them. There is, how
ever. in general custom, closet for the most
deadly poisons, and there they are generally
kept The other drugs, that are poisonous
when taken in overdoses, but not radically
fatal, are generally kept on the shelves with
the other goods, and the druggists caution in
their dispensation, is, in general, the only
safeguard. The fact of the cyanide Of pc
tassium being chemical used only in me-
chanical and artisans works and not in med-
cine, in one sense excludes it from the list of
poisons, and apothecaries say that it was not
improper that the two bottles should have
been near each other on Mr.. Harlow's shelf.
Mr.. Harlow is an old and experienced drug
gist, and we do not feel called upon to add
anything to the great sorrow he already bears,
by offering any censure of his act, which was
pure mistake-a circumstance, the details
of which are lost in the great grief of the
lady's friends, the sorrow of Mr.. Harlow and
regrets of all. Mrs. Veazie was a lady of
charming disposition, who, by her many good
qualities and amiable nature, had won many
friends, and by her charity won the heartJ of
many people of small means, who will miss
their benefactor, and with all other friends
feel deep regret al her untimely demise. The
deceased leaves three children. the eldest
boy of ~ years, and these children have the
sympathy of loving friends in their bereave
ment. The father, and brother and sister
of the departed are also among the mourners.
The funeral will take place Wednesday, from
the late residence of the deceased, Fountain
and Montgomery streets.