The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-20

"ocii, iistS Dccu. puuiiolicu. wv 'ie ~
obligations for copy This report is OF
more than usual interest. From the lacl
that it might possibly throw some lighl
on the tragedy which occurred Wlthln the
Asylum walls III February last, by which
six of the unfortunate inmates we're usll-
cred into eternity. it was looked forward
to with no little impatience. DR.. Hamil-
ton treats of the subject fully, and we
/ copy in ertnes0 his observations, as well as
the conclusion reached by the detective who
| was employed to thoroughly investigate
the matter.
HISTORY OF TIE POISONING CASES.
The report says:
There is much in the retrospect to be
| CRATE to Him under whose providence
the Institution and it's interests have been
guarded and sustained
In the increase in the extent of its oper-
ations in the establishment OF many much
needed improvements in its comparative
exemption from contagious and epidemic
diseases: in the reasonable success of the
means designed for the relief of the at
1iicted inmates. and in the abundant man
ifestations of their comfort cOntentment,
and cheerfnlness. WE have. we think. suf-
ficient evidence that the asylum Is fulfill
ing the high and responsible duties for
Which it was designed. But whilst this is
so whilst there is much to challenge our
gratitude-we have also had a sad and ter
rible dispensation to bear. and it is proper,
in the very beginning Of this report. to
chronicle the fact that we were called
upon to witness. i'll the early part Of the
year, u most unusual and appalling vista
ton. in the form of the fatal poisoning of
several patients-l fearful tragedy against
which (while. thank God, it is Of rare Oc-
eurrence anywhere) The most llnremitting
vigilance cannot always protect.
The particulars of this painful incident
have been so widely made known through
the public prints OF the country, that any
thing more than II simple recital OF its
prominent features would seem ineXcuSable
repetition, but for the fact that a few
newspapers in our own State none, how
ever, in this section, where they were in
formed on thesubject). regardless OF truth,
and reckless of integrity and pfOprety,
INDUCED in the most absurd representa-
tions and unjust criticisms. without wait
ing to hear the testimony. or secure any of
the facts in the case whatever.
Notwithstanding the extent and fatality
OF this tragedy. we are glad to be able to
put here upon. record the fact that the per-
centage Of deaths for the year but little
exceeds the average annual percentage
dating from the opening of the asylum,
and is far less than that reported on Il num-
Der of previous occasions
1t has been truly sail that Saturday,
the oath OF February. WAS one OF the
glOOmieSt. s;uldest days i'll the history OF
the Western Lunatic Asylum. Five
corpSes lay shrOuded within its walls ; and
i'll two Of the wards "a hard. persistent
fight was being made by the physicians to
save the lives of three other inmates. =
Eight i'll all had partaken OF the terrible
4 draught, OF whom six died. and the two
4 others slowly recovered.
OF the six (6l fatal cases, four died with
| in a few minutes after swallowing the
dose; the fifth. i'll the second hour and
the sixth. having survived for two days.
died on the third-from the secondary
| (gastric) effects OF the drug.
The situation was taken in by the med
| ical officials at once and whilst all the
remedial means which the exigencies of
the cases required were promptly reSorted
\ to and persstently perSeVered In, the med
i ical Office after having first secured AL the
mugs walters. &c. that had been used
| with the patients. was securely locked,
and the city attorney for the Common
wealth was quickly notified, and his aid
\ and cooperation sought, for the purpose
of setting on foot such measures as he
/ thought proper and necessary for full an
/ vestigation of the cause OF causes Which
i had led to the sudden and shocking deaths,
and for finding out, if possible, ,chege. hOr,
\ and la uhone, the mysterious and deadly
agency had been employed. At the same
time. Drs. Atkinson. Gibson and l1aller
Henkle, practitioners Of the city, were
Eo.. u 11,,af oil hn
| tinguished analytical chemist OF the Uni
versity Of Virginia, was summoned by
1 telegram, to come as speedily as possible.
i From the suddenness and Simultaneous
ness of the attacks. it was evident that q
common cause was operating upon ali OF
4 the eight cases and the fact that the
/ symptoms in each case followed almost
| Immediately upon the administration OF
i their morning medicine, was conclusive
4 that the cause resided in the medicine then
administered. Furthermore, the peculiar
\ tiles OF the symptoms and suddenness OF
| death showed that the cause was u poison :;
] and. taking the cases either singly OF col
4 lectively, the absence of tetanic and other
i characteristic symptoms excluded Strych-
MIA, arsenic, and the other poisons most
/ commonly resOrted to whilst the manner
| of death in the fatal cases, and the Symp-
| toms exhibited by the survivors, such as
diIatation of the eyes, great prostitution,
/ utter want of muscular power, the coma
tose condition of all, and the nervous man.
\ ifestations evinced--as well in the epilep-
\ tics as in the other types Of mental mala-
dies possessed by the several yictimS-led
to the suspicion that prussic acid OF AGO.
mite was the fatal agent. 1t maybe stated
here that the remedies, us prescribed and
1 prepared III the medical office for these
l patients, did not contain elements which,
\ by ;ssay combination, could produce these
| sNnaptOnls-resem those of pruSsic
acid or aconite. Neither was any one else
lin the asylum taking any preparation that
contained either one of these drugs.
OF the victims, one had in his mug q
teaspoonful Of Sharp & Dohme's elixir of
the phosphate of iron. quinia and strych-
mia another took (as for some time he had
been been taking twice daily half d drachm
of the fluid extract of hyoscy;mus and
all the others took their usual dose OF q
| common tonic, which not less than forty
others in the Institution took that cery
,no1ni,asy, from ecactly the same bottle, and
prepared as follows f
rTincture ferri muir. $3.50. .l2oZ.
Simple syrup. ..........,.... opus.
Mix and add aqlle ammonia and tincture
cinnamon, each an ounce, and Whiskey
three pints
>. r.. "A UGdSpOOUIul tillCC oiiiiSso ~ uty.
These remedies, repeat, could not, by
any possible combination. have produced
the symptoms exhibited; and there has
been perfect unanimity on the part OF all
medical men and chemical experts who
have examined the premises and familiar
| lied themselves with the dispensary ar
| engagements, the agents there. and the
symptoms produced, that, under the en-
cumstances, such effects could not possibly
have been produced by mistake OF the
druggist.
Post-mortem examinations were pulr-
posely deferred until the arrival OF DR..
Mallet, and then, in his presence, and that
4 OF the coroner, jury, and others, DIR. Halter
\ Henkle, by request, conducted the autop-
1 sizes. The anatomical disclosures of these.
as was expected, gave no satisfactory evil
\ dence OF anything beyond the fact that an
acrid substance had been swallowed. which
was evinced, more OF less, by each case.
! Some of the visera. or. at least. the
/ stomach and its contents Of each of the
| bodies, were then carefully secured by
| Prof Mallet in new. clean, glass Jars, and
carried by him to his laboratory at the
| University, for such elaborate analyses as
he might deem necessary for u full inves-
tigation Of the subject.
His examination and analysis continued
through several weeks, after which most
satisfactory report was submitted by him