The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-03
HUNT FOR THE POISON.
Inquiry Among Di uggists az 10 the
Sale OF the AcOnitinc which Killed
the Six Lunatics mt StauntOn.


Professor Z. w. Bedford. editor and
publisher OF the Pharmaceutical Record
of New York, was recently in this city
visiting friend. and from here went to
the University. The following leading ar
ticle in his journal relative to the Staunton
poisoning is the result OF an interview
with Professor MalIett, and Is q concise
review Of the important facts connected
with the tragedy. followed by general in
quiry as TO where the aconitine was pur-
chased. The Professor writes:
The remedies for the several patients
had, as usual, been prepared in the phar-
macy, and on this occasion they consisted
Of, 1st, an iron tonic; I'd, quiuine tonic;
Sd, an anodync OF fluid extract byoscyamlis,
each separate mug having a single dose for
the patient whose name was attached to
the mug. The mugs were placed on three
trays, each tray being for separate ward,
and these trays were placed set one above
another in q closet in the hallway outside
the apothecary's room, that the nurses
might obtain them as they had opportunity.
The trays were taken to the several
wards, at the usual time. and almost at
once some OF the patients complained Of
the effect. Several died within ten
for two days.
The sudden death Of so many at once in
dicated the use Of poison, and Professor j.
w. Mallett was at once summoned.
An investigation Of the remedies dis.
pensed gave conclusive proof that they
were correct, for others OF the patients
taking doses from the same source were
unharmed, and the stock, when eX-
in Of aifri,
substance. The slltferings complained OF,
The taste and reactions OF some tritling re-
sidues in the mugs used by the poisoned
patients, gave unmiStakable clues to some
form OF aconite. The search for alkaloids
in the stomach OF one OF The deceased in
mates gave residue OF fully $40 s. grain.
Portions OF this were subjected to physical
and chemical tests in comparison with
known samples OF Morson's and Du-
quesnel's make OF acOnitine, and also a
specimen Of hyoscyamine, but the reactions
were unmstakably those OF acOnitinc, and
the portion recovered was crystalline.
II was absolutely impossible to have been
caused either by tincture or fluid extract
Of acOnite root, and the stock OF these two
preparations had not been touched or dis
turbed. There was no aconitine in the
the physicians. nor could any have been
obtained at the drug-stores in Staunton, as
but one OF them had any; II had been in stock
for two or three years. and but single
grain was used out Of il, and that had
been dispensed long while ago.
One OF the singular features OF the case
is the mysterious way in which it was ac-
complshed. II is believed that while the
Ia, I,l fn
some one + the patients must have gone to
it, and, taking up the trays, have poured
the solution OF acOnitine in some OF the
mugs promiscuousy, as it was subsequent
" traced to mugs standing on each OF the
trays, while the contents OF the mugs thus
poisoned varied as to the medicines they
contained.
The second mystery is, by whom it could
have been accomplished, and how the
aconitine could have been obtained. And
lust here, at the suggestion OF Professor
Malett, we desire to start the inquiry
=. Does anu tchoieSaie or retail druggist re-
call TO memOru tie sale of ana QcOnitine or
salt of dconitine during the past three
months to dRg stranger, and particularly
10 any party or parties IN hatpdrt Of V"-
ginia 2"
ne llliIu - lIlt lkDitiitf VI 'Nti'i ~
some Of the cases. As all were caused by
the same article, examination was made in
only a part of the cases. In one case. the
quantity obtained Is an alkalOid IS grain)
did not cause death, but that which bad
been absorbed, which probably was a very
much smaller quantity. It's supposed that
the larger quantities were poured from the
bottle first, and rs the latter portions were
poured into the mugs, the amount was
much smaller, and the patients who re-
ceycd the latter were those who survived
the longest.
As ii is. the case is shrOuded in mystery,
so far as the source BS which it was obtain
ed and administered. Doubtless the medi-
cal and chemical developments OF the case
will, ere long, be fully given by some OF
the gentlemen who were in attendance.
Meanwhile. we start the inquiry. W no can
help us trace the safe OF the aconitine, or
the salt of aconitine, thus used !
i. W. Il.