The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-01

lacK OF myers or Times alarmed the altcDQ
ants, as beth of those patients were confirmed
epileptics, and liable TO tumble over at any
moment Hines was taken from the hall and
placed in his room, as was also Myers. In the
meantime the doctors had been summoned
and antidotes were administered. They proved
unavailing with Hines, who died in about two
and halfh hours after taking themedicine. The
last death, Saturday, was that of Sperry. His
drug did not seem to affect him until he had got.
ten to the breakfast table. Whilst there, he sud
denly ceased eating, ran out of the room and
vomited. He was taken to bed and soon be.
came unconscious, in which condition he re-
manned until his death, which occurred about
four hours after the medicine had been taken
Sperry's was a case of dementia, and he sell
dom spoke at all No one heard him utter q
syllable from the time he arose on that fatal
morning.
Looney, who received the mug of whskey
was not affected in the least by the dose.
By the administration of antidotes Myers
was relieved of the poison, and entirely
recovered from its effects His medicine was
the same as that of Hines'-sesqui oxide and
bromide
Thomas, who drank the sesqui oxide oil
iron, was not unconscious at any time. As
stated, he complained OF the burning at the
time he swallowed the DOSE Shortly after
wards he yomited, became very weak and was
placed in bed, where he remained until Sun
day, vomiting occasionally. On Monday be
had fully recovered from the effects of the
poison, and seemed as we'll as usual with the
exception Of weakness from exhaustion.
WAITER No2
had upon it five mugs, for patients in the
I'd male ward. One mug contained fluid
extract of hyoscyamus for Vaughan two con-
tanned pure whiskey and two sesqui oxide
Only the mug for Vaughan was poisoned
The contents of the other four were taken by
patients without any i'll effects. Mr.. Grove,the
attendant, gave Vaughan his medicine before
the ward to attend to his duties. In about ten
minutes he returned and found Vaughan lying
on the floor. The patient was placed in bed
and the doctors at once summoned, and anti
dotes administered. Vaughan was uncon-
scious until Monday morning, but restless on
Sunday. On awakening Monday morning, be
stated that he was not suffering, but had evil
IDENTITY not regained his mental faculties. He
lived until Tuesday about noon, vomiting fire.
quently before death and seemingly suffering
great pain.
In the other patients the poison must have
attacked the brain, so suddenly did it kill
Vaughan rallied from the effects ON the brain
but the terrible retching and vomiting showed
that it must have attacked his stomach. The
fact that none of the patients had eaten before
taking the medicine would tend 10 account in
some degree for the suddenness of death
'Sperry, who had eaten some little before the
any who died on Saturday. The few mouth
fuls taken must have given the poison some
thing to feed upon.
THE DEAD
Leonard T. Wilkins, the first who died, was
from Northampton county and just 81 years
of age. He was brought to the Asylum last
spring in PROSTATE physical condition and
suffering from melancholia and delusion. Fol
two months lie was unable 10 leave his bed,
but after while he began to improve in both
body and mind, and latterly had been regarded
as almost well. For some little time past he
had been allowed to go about at will, and fire.
quently visited town. During the Amiss tria
he gained admittance to the Court House, and
was one of the most interested spectators. He
was general favorite about the Asylum, his
genial disposition making him popular with
officers, patients and attendants. DR.. Hamil-
ton, the Superintendent intended to discharge
him in week or two, and his mother, we un
derstand, who is wealthy, was preparing to
welcome him home, and had already arranged
for him to enter upon business pursuits.
Thos. w. Adams, was from Loudoun county
and about As years of age. He was an cpl
leptic and had been in the Asylum for years
At the time of taking the poison he was in
comparatively good physical condition. Dur
ing the war he served calamity IN the Confed
crate army
}. Thos. Holloman came from Spotsylyania
and had been in the Asylum only a few
months. His disease was acute mania with
pyro-mania specially prominent. He was 6
man of powerful physique, and being hope
lessly insane was dangerous. For this reason
his hands were kept confined He was about
so years of age.
Jno. W. Hines, of Bath county, was about
As years of age, and an epileptic He haG
been in the Asylum about year. His gen
eral physical health was good
Isaac Sperry was from Frederick county
and about SIS years of age. His was an ole
case of dementia, and he had been an inmate
of the Asylum for years.
Matthew Vaughan, of Prince Edward coun
ty, has been at the Asylum number of years
his disease being acute recurrent mania. HI
was an old man and his general physical health
was not good. He was well known in Staun
ton, being frequently in the city.
THE SICK
Edward Myers is native of this county
his home being near Craigsville. He is ar
epileptic, but young and in good physical con
dition, and has entirely overcome the effects
of the poison.
Joel Thomas, of Rockingham, case of mel
ancholia with delusion, has recovered, and il
about as we'll as usual.
TWO OTHER SINGULAR CASES.
In addition to the patients stricken on Sat
urday morning, two other cases OF sudden anG
unaccountab,e illness have recently occurred
in the Asylum.
On Friday morning, Mr.. Windle, one of the
patients in the centre or conyalescent ward
went to DR.. Butler and complained of suffer
ing with dysentery. The doctor gave him 6
dose of castor oil, followed in the afternoon
by 7 drops of turpentine and 10 drops o
laudanum. In ten minutes after giving thu
turpentine and laudanum the doctor was sen
for and found Mr.. Windle in more or les
! PROSTATE condition. His articulation was dit
| ficult, evidencing partial paralysis of thu
tongue, but no other muscles, either voluntary
| or involuntary showing any paralysis. Soor
after the doctor reached his bedside the patien
passed into a semi-comotose condition. Thu
was only momentary, however, and in shor
while he rallied, but difficulty of articulation
was still experienced for some time. On Mon
| day all signs of the paralysis had disappeared