The Portland daily press., 1882-07-01
A Warning to Parents.

To the Editor of the Press:
The great dangers incident to the buying
and firing by children of so-called harmless 10Y
pistols in which are exploded blank cartridges
need no more mournful illustration than the
death from look-iaw of the son OF Mr. VIM
Mcdonald, living on Anderson street, WHICH
occurred Thursday morning.
Obj addy" Mcdonald, the subject OF tnis
warning to parents, was in all respects an at
tractive, intelligent and loveable child IN the
Twelfth year of his age. He was little favorlte'
his disposition characterized by kindness, was
admired by his friends, cherished by MS
teachers and pastor and idolized by MS
parents. Boy-like he became charmed with
the excitement of pistol-fring and, unknown
to his parents, he became possessed OF one OF
the iron breech-loading toy pistols made TO
explode a copper-shell blank cartridge con-
tanning powder and pasteboard wad. On
Wednesday, the 21st inst, after sehool brau9y
set out to amuse himself by firing his pistol a
few times but very soon had the misfortune 10
discharge the contents of one of the cartridges
into the palm of the left hand just oeloW the
base of the index finger. He went nome SUI
fering some pain and pale from the snocK o.
the wound inflicted but bravely made the pesG
-
the pistol without the knowledge OF MS
mother
The hand was done up by his mother as
sisted by friend and as he did not complain
of much pain the advice of physician was
not sought. The next day, however, the hand
was found to be badly swollen and by after
noon it was nearly as thick as two hands
should be and his father brought him TO the
office of the writer for surgical advice upon
examination the hand was found to be swollen
ut.N Al, fVn0
commenced. 1t was treated and dressed as
the condition seemed to demand and attention
was given to the child's general health: line
treatment appeared to be successful and three
subsequent examinations witnessed the marx
ed reduction of the swelling and Inflammation
and that o favorable discharge OF pus was
taking place from the wound. Indeed, so
satisfactorily was the appearance that the
parents were advised as to the treatment to be
con tinued and the writer discontinued his
professional examinations. On the seventh
day however he was again summoned to see
the little patient and found to his great sorrow
that symptoms of lock-jaw had been prevail
ing more or less during the past ten or twelve
hours. Immediately energetic treatment was
instituted to combat the advance of the horri-
BILE and deadly malady and in addition
surgical consultation was held. From that
time on, the boy was under constant care both
ON the part of his friends and the writer and
he had the benefit of a second consultation butt
despite all efforts and the most reliable reme-
dies, the disease progressed rapidly causing in
tense agony and death within As hours.
Had the dealer who sold to Brady Nc
Donald such a death-dealing toy stood by and
seen the terrible Distress the spasmodic con-
fractions, the awful rigidity of the jaws and
throat during those 40 hoursi is believed he
would never have the heart to sell another
And could parents have witnessed the
awful anguish and sadness caused to all
parties by the sudden taking-off of this dear
young life it is believed that no moro money
would be given to children to buy barbarous
and dangerous Fourth of July nuisances
The death of Brady seemed useless
sacrifice yet if it is accepted as warning to
parents and protection to other children it
will not have been entirely in vain.