Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-03-02

srect Of hyo1cy6mue. &Ad oil Of the other
took their usual dcse OF q common toni
which not less than twenty-five others il
the Institution took that morning. TIL
formula CT the tonic (which has been use
here since anybody could recollect)
this:
| Tinct. ferrin muir, IL OF,
Simple syrup, 3pts.
Mix and add
AZ. Ammonia. 1oz.
| Tiuct. Cinnamon, 1oz.
Whiskey. Spts.
Two of the epilepttcs, Myers and Hine.
were taking in addition to this tonic, bro
mide potassium. The usual d ,ss OF til
common tonic was a teaspooDful. No com
| bination of any of these could possibl
have produced the symptoms Ut those al
tackled. Other patients took the sam
medicine that Wilkins. Thomas. Sperry
Holloman. Hines and Sperry. prep .red b.
the druggist at the same time and poCret
from the same bottle. Soma twenty fiv'
females took the same medicine as Wilk
ms, Sperry and Holloman took and wer'
unhurt. that very morning prepared at th'
same time, but taken directly to theil
wards on other walters and by other hands
a smaller number Of patients safely tool
the same medicine taken by Vaughan and
Adams. There was not patient poisoned
who took medicine that there are not some
other patients taking. and who took II
safely that morRing.
My regulations for the Asylum are very
strict " it'll regard to the medical Office
among other things requiring that the As
sistant Physicians shall never leave the Of
ice without locking the door. have takeI
some pains to sec that this regulation il
conformed to, and can safely say tina
within the last four months have nevel
been able to End the door unlocked viii
the physicians out. nor have been abl'
TO get report that it has been 90 found
bv any one else. and each Assistant
Physician have key to the room and
there is hut one other. That other il
kept by Mrs. Beers, supervisor Of the din
ing room and medical office, who 9ivei
it daily to the servant boy to clean up thu
room. At such time the door Is open
with the Assistant Physician only across
the passage in bis apartment. The ser
wants name is Willis Coleman.
At the time when the medicine, after be
ing prepared Is set in the safe IN ths hall
to await the attendants to come for 1t, &C.
cess might be had to it. 1t has been the
custom ia the Asylum for many years te
set out in the hall. just before supper time
the medicine intended for patients to take
the next morning before breakfast. The
attendants as fast as they finish their sup
per go to the safe and getting the medicine
for his or her ward and carry it to his
or her room. During the interval, persons
did have access; indeed witness knew, now,
that on Friday evening two patients were
seen in that hall where the medicine was
setting IN the safe. The physician tDr.
Butler, } prepares the medicine and pu's 1t
on the walters which stand in tiers OF
three, preparing that for one waiter at a
time. The medicine in former years was
set upon table in the hall. but last Juns
witness had wire screened safe made for
1t to keep the flies out of it. The time the
medicine stands in the safe in the hall
generally varies from minute to an hour
but seldom as long as an ,ur. Some time
ago heard that some attendants left the
med icine there until the next morning.
Witness at once put stop to that habit.
The waiter for each ward is Numbered
except wards and 2. which
have waiter in common. That waiter
and the two of wards and make one Of
the tiers of three. These walters are made
into tier by DR.. Butler separately. That
for ward is put up at the bottom. No.
next above and that for No. l and 2 on
top Of all. He then carries it out of the
medical office and puts It in the wire
screened kafe in its own place which 10
that end of the safe next to the Office door
and FIRST reached by any one coming into
the hall. The number Of mugs on the
walters varies according to the number of
patients needing medicine.
On Saturday morning last there were
four mugs on the waiter for wards and 2;
five on the waiter for ward 3. and SIX on
that for ward 4. For wards and 2 the
waiter contained medicine intended for
Wilkins and Waller of the LIST ward, ad
ministered by Nelson Andrews. the atten-
dsnt. and mugs for Adams and Kursch
ner in the 81 ward, administered hy VIM.
Price, the attendant. Those given ia
wilkins and Adams. proved fatal, but
Wallar's produced no perceptible effect
Kurschner knocked the mug from the
hands of the attendant and spilled its con
tents.
The waiter for ward 3 contained fvl
mugs, for Vaughan, Stockton. Beck
ham. Sears and Curvslle. They were ad
ministered by G. NJ. Grove the attendant.
No i'll effects followed to any Of them saw
Vaughan. Mr.. Vaughan, within fifteen
minutes was seized with the violent symp
toms that have heretofore required to-
He fingered until to-day Tuesday, at moor
when he died.
The waiter for ward held six mug 8
Ave of which gave evidence of the fata
nature Of their contents They were ad.
ministered by Norman Taylor, the atten.
dant Three produced death, namely: thos'
for Holloman. Hines and Sperry. Thu
fourth and fifth mugs produced on Myer
and Thomas similar symptoms. and witt
like pr0mutness. These two, however. re
and produced no visible effect.
By Mr.. Young Have you any theor.
of your own as to how the poison got into
the medicine.
DR.. Hamilton.-It is involved In grea
mystery and am frank to say have N