Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-03-06

Ths WATERS were taken from the safe In the
following order: t, the 3rd ward or middle
waiter was taken by Grove. one of the attend.
ants; End the 4th ward waiter taken by Bear
and last the waiter for LIST and End ward, taken
by Price.
AS regards theory, DIR Hamilton stated
that he was disposed to believe that patient
had committed the deed. until something else
is forced upon him. He said that he had an.
other clue and was following 1t up.
Proceeding with his testimony, DIR. Hamil
ton stated, in response to interrogatories, thai
the hyoscyamus taken by Vaughan and tbs
strychnine by Adams, were the most poison
GUS ingredients in the medicines when they
left the Office. Vaughan's dose was q half DIR
and could not have produced the violent symp
toms the proportion of strychnine in Adams
dose was one sixty fourth of grain. Adams'i
symptoms plainly showed that the poison wa
not strychnine.
WEDNESDAY
the examination was continued.
DIR. W. W. s. BUTLER,
third assistant physician. and the officer IN
charge of the dispensary. testified in substance
as follows: I compound all medicines. tine
lures and prescriptions necessary for the wards
evening of the 2Sd. about $50 o'clock, pre-
pared the tonics and sedatives for the respec
tive wards, to be administered the following
morning. the toni g taken and which pro.
duced the violent effects were: LIST, Elixir phos.
phate of iron. quinia and strychnia. prepared
by Sharp & Dohner, chemists; End. a solution
of the sesqui oxide of iron prepared by myself
about ten days before, two gallons having been
made at that time. or the first tonic about
one dozen patients were taking it thrice daily
in doses of two teaspoonfuls; of the second
some sixty patients were taking thrice daily,
In doses of one teaspoonful each.
The sedatives used were LIST, fluid extract Of
hyoscyamus, and End, bromide of potassium
The first was prepared by Sharp Dohmer
chemists. 1t was administered to but one pa
tient (Vaughan) at that time. His dose was
half q teaspoonful. The second (bromide) was
kept in solution and given to about eight
thrice daily. The doses of this varied. but
we're generally administered in a dos of 81
or ms. or one teaspoonful. Myers and Hines
took that quantity.
The witness then went on to state how the
medicine was placed on the fatal walters; how
,. was administered; the various effects, etc.
The account corroborat"d the statement given
above, and was in substance the same.
In response to question. the witness stated
that he had had occasion some two weeks be
fore to use dilute of plussic acid He then
noticed that about teaspoonfnl of the fluid
remained in the bottle On Saturday about
noon. he examined the same viii and nn,iced
hat its contents we're about as when asst used
teasnoonful Of this dilute even if used would
not have caused the dearh Of an adult That
nv Ir a he
in to the 20 >ihiliiy II p RS ,ua
" ming a.,c - Ia tn irug room ,rll ,h-ence
= i e physri ms illness STATE! tlsi 'hp Ike,
Key b, Mrs Beers las stated by Dr. n m
'inn}, burg I'm the d ming r',orn con h We
peen stolen. used and re laced by malicious
person. It had not. however. been missed from
the nail, from which it had suspended for years
Uhen not in use
In regard to the symptoms manifested by the
unfortunate patients, the witness stated that
between 7 and 7:3o a. na. ca lhsr 24th he ~as
ammOned TO see Adams in the End ward
Found him Frustrated; the symptoms being o.
apoplexy. Not having heard of illness of 9th
ers, supposed it to be apoplexy. When first
seen by me about minutes after taking the
medicine, he exclaimed, doctor, 1t burns all
the way down" Immediately afterwards he
became unconscious. Being in the sitting
room he was placed in bed and derivatives ap-
piled, viz: mustard to back of neck ankles
and wrists. In a few moments he expired
having died about five minutes after 1 reached
him.
Upon returning TO my room, was immedi
ately called to see Mr.. Vaughan in the 3rt
ward. When reached him thought he was In
dying condition. Used derivatives as In cas-,
Of Adams. Vaughan remained unconsciou.
until of the 25th, when he spoke, but evidently
did not have the use of his mental facultie
until the morning of the 26th. From that tim
he was conscious till death, which occurret
| about noon on the 9th. The symptoms prom
inent in Vaughan's case were gastric in11am
| nation and emphysema of lungs (dilation O
lungs with air.. Witness had no doubt tina
| he death Of the six patients was the result O
extreme poison.
In answer to interrogatory DR.. Butler staieJ
/ that before graduating in medicine he had al
| experience of three and half years as drug
| gist or compounder of medicines. This expe
rience was had in retail drug and prescrip
ion store in Harrisonburg.
| DIR. D e. STRAIN,
second assistant physician, was next exam
| ined, and testified that he was called to sc
wilkins early Saturday morning Found hin
lying across bed elevated his head and should
ers, and pressed the chest to restore respiration
| Only gurgling In the air passages was pro
| iuced, but no respiration re-established. Ell
| mined heart and found no action. The pup
| VI eye was dilated and face livid. Being salts
lied he was dead, sent for Dr.. Hamilton. Wa
| then summoned to 4th ward. Found Hollo
nan dead; and Myers, Hines, and Sperry IN
| conscious, and Thomas supporting himse
against the wall, having just vomited. Seein
| That but little could be done for the uncou
scious men, turned my attention to ThOma
| tent for Drs. Crockett and Butler, and wen
/ myself to get whiskey. upon returning CAV
| Thomas about one-third Of glass of puY
| whiskey. Shortly afterwards he vomited, an
| part Of this vomit was gwen to DR.. Male
| or analysis, At this time 1 was called to s
ward to see Vaughan, whom I found uncor
>rious. Tried to give whiskey, but not su,
:eeding well, went 10 9TH ward. There mt
nrs. Crockett and Butler, and after short cor
| suttatiOn concluded that remedy to be use
WAS stimulant agreeing that poison had bee
4 mployed. DR. cutter then left for Sd war,
4 ind DR.. Crockett and my self turn our after
| ion to Hines and Myers A stomach pun
va suggested. hut was not optairahle; mu
I'd WAS applied to the extremities, and Will
1 o. it, milk given Hines died in ab6ut y
t...--, o.. uaify ....tir tsFo it.,ur~ ;5 s'-, -
| ~ IA .'tnr Myers m tHei l.. a ct4us,t'.-
| 'ihiiiior until hnui &c urF in + ave, in
when he regained consciousness Stlmulan
| so CONTINUED, and the next morning he q
| BIS dressed, aud ste bre X fast
Thomas never lost consci u ness entirel
lie was much Frustrated, and heart acted fe
by during early part of dav. He spoke wit
difficulty, his tongue being thick and stll
That night he ate supper and has been abol
ever since. The TOM ues of both Myers ar
Thomas were coated with a white fur. Sim
| lbs ,..,ieoD was taken. Or train stated III
he Wa Ter for the 4Lh ward had not been take
out of the safe in the hall before 9:45 O'Clock c
F iday night. This he had learned from 9TH
parties.
DIR. H. II. HENKEL,
of Staunton, testified, IN substance, that /
was summoned to the Asylum Saturday eve
ing. He examined the three living patien
who had been suddenly strick n. Upon tv
IF them the symptoms had subsidized. tt
third (Vaughan) was unconscious, and the
. was an entire absence of muscular power, a