The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-07
POISON SOLD AGAIN.
This Time Patent Medicine Causes Horrible
Suffering.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. GA nearly fatal
case of taking the wrong medicine occurred
last night in West Philadelphia. Milton Ogden,
son of William Ogden, and youth of fifteen,
was suffering from catarrh, and went to the
drug store of S. Everett Belts, at the corner of
Thirty sixth and Wallace street, to get some
thing to relieve his trouble. He had seen the
wide spread advertisements of Vita SUPPOSE
tories" a new patent medicine, and decided to
try it for a change. He bought box for %
cents, and took it home and showed it TO his
mother. They read the directions, which said
to snuff it up the nose. On opening the box it
was found to contain six small bottles filed with
white powder. The boy put some of this on his
finger and said II will put some up each
nostril"
Don't do that" said his mother, "Only put
it in the nostril that is affected"
This caution of the mother saved the boys
life. He then put it to his nose and snuffed it,
nearly frightened his mother out of her wits.
''Oh. mother" he cried, ''run and ask Mr..
Belts if have taken it right"
He Immediately blew his nose, and stream
OF blood flowed. Then followed succession of
piercing shrieks, which brought in a policeman
and several neighbors The boy began to vomit,
and in three minutes was in commissions, from
which he did not recover for ten hours.
When Mr. Belts. the druggist, arrived he ex-
amined the box of medicine. and at once saw
that it was not the proper medicine, AS the sup
positories are little pencils, an inch long and an
eighth of an inch in diameter. On examination
the bottles were found to contain sulphate
hyoscyamine, commonly known as henbane, and
a most deadly poison.
The policeman carried the struggling boy up
stairs, and says he was the hardest person to
manage he ever had hold of. although he is not
larger than an ordinary twelve-year-old boy. 1t
required three men to hold him on the bed, and
it was even then with the greatest difficulty
that he prevented from tearing the bed
clothes and demolishing the bedstead.
DR.. Thatcher, the family physician, living at
Thirty fifth and Hamilton Streets arrived soon
after and Immediately applied antidotes, which
had modifying effect but the boy showed no
signs Of consciousness until morning. During
to-day he was much quieter and had occasional
sem-lucid intervals. Toward night he was
the physician says will undoubtedly recover in a
few days.
1t was thought at first that there was no pos
sbity of saving his life, as hyoscyamus is one
of the deadliest poisons known. The amount
taken so small that it did not appreciably
decrease the contents of the bottle.
The parents of the lad absolve the druggist
from any possible blame as the poison was
placed in the package before he received it, and
of three which he had in stock. Drug
gst Belts has been following the matter up, and
it is ascertained that the original package came
from New York. He said:
1.-The matter is now being traced in New York,
and hope the person responsible for the mis-
take will be found. never open packages of
patent medicines. as they are usually all right.
and would hardly expect to find 81 30 worth of
poison In 70 cent package. / regret very much
that this has occurred but do not see that
have been guilty of any negligence in the mat
ter"