Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-26
THE DEADLY SOOTHING SYRUP
The D,a.ss ,ctth Which Many Little Fables
are Poisoned.
TCiu cinpati ENQUIRER

| Gin cinnah Enquirer
The recent death in st. Louis from TIT
| iniudicious administration of certain
soothing syrup to two infants (twins) hal
aroused attention to the danger attending
The use of opiates by mothers and nurses
to quiet young babies. In this case the
medicine was given every day for a week
according to the testimony of one witness
The children, it is supposed, became satur-
ated with the opiate. III. Harger, ST.
| Louis chemist, said there was no opium in
| the sample bottle of soothing syrup furn-
ished him, but that in an ordinary bottle OF
the same stuff bought by him he found four
grains of morphine to the ounce. The
| stuff is the more dangerous that those
! using it are not careful to shake the bottle,
| and the morphine floats on top. Another
comes from the fact that the appetite for
opium grows rapidly, and the dose which
satisfied the child to-day is not enough for
| tomorrow, and it must be increased, If
the stuff is in the house it is difficult to
prevent nurses from using it surreptitious-
~. A careless person can easily make 4
mistake through inattention, and not be
aware that an overdose has been taken
until 1t is TO late.
''There are cases. said DR.. t. G. Minor,
"of poisoning from the use of soothing
syrup happening occasionally in this city.
In the returns to the health board there is
blank fer immediate cause of death,
and another for remote cause Of death
I remember, it seems to me, at least three
| cases while [ was health officer, where the
Immediate cause of death was stated to be
the use of soothing syrup. This medicine
contains considerable opium. l do not
think opium should be given in any form
to young infant, except where the physi-
clan deem it necessary, and then only
under his direction. IL cases of collie,
which is the dlatention of the intestines by
gas, warm teas will give the necessary re-
lief, and are entirely safe. Paregoric is a
safer thing than soothing syrup, but there
should be no opiates administered to quiet
child. There is always danger that it
will cause congestion of the brain. Some
classes of congestion of the brain reported
in young children are the result of ad-
ministering soothing syrup, or some othe T
opiate. 1t is more difficult to rally child
from the effects of an overdose of an
opiate than an adult"
koootLluS Syiups, Sdio ". ~ H.
Bramble, health officer, ''are not SO much
used in this city, I believe, as in other
cities. Our people prefere to use the
prescriptions of the pharmac@pia."
"No,' said Mr.. Bart Chapman of the
health Office. "When [ was in the drug
business know there was little call for it.
only know of one case of fatal poisoning
in this city. That occurred years ago on
East Front street.
"Paregoric is safer than any soothing
syrup continued DR.. Bramble, in answer
to questions, ''for it containes certain
amount Of opium. The purchaser is warn
ed of the nature Of the contents, and the
drug clerk stated the proper doses for q
child Of any certain age, But I have
taught for many years, und l have always
advised my people to be exceedingly eau
tiohs in the use of opium in any form in
the case of young children. In all ordin
airy cases [ shall advise some simple warm
tea, milk Of asaf@tida, or the ike. No
one in charge of child, mother or nupse,
should NEEDLE with soothing syrup Or any
croiurp :,