The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-09
DEATH BY SALVATION.
Terrible Ending Of a Child In Washington
County, Va
FACE EATEN lYAY--!YEEYH FELL OUT,
Tho AFFAIR Exposed by the Glade Spring Citi-
zsn-Much Excitement in tho
Vicinity.

much excitement was caused IN TINS sectlon
last week when tho Glade Spring Citizen pub
lished an article about little child who died
in this vicinity some days before, whose death
was most horrible and should be investigated.
Being unwel the childs parents called in q
neighboring physician, who prescribed and
administered medicine which they thought
to be calomel The doses were too largo and
soon the child was salivated. Then followed,
until death kindly put an end to its suffer-
ings, horror of horrors. The little ones
teeth came out one by one or were pluckod
ont bv its own hands, the whole side OF its
face was eaten away, its flesh stuffed from
the bones. and its body became mass
of putrefcation. Since the child death. we
are informed. continues the Citizen, that the
physician denies it was calomel he gave, and
gives the name of another medicine which
we learn from its mercurial character has
produced salvation much sooner than Gallo
mel Our information is perfectly reliable:
but will investigate thoroughly the case and
IL found to DO as represented, give in our next
Issue in detail the facts Of the case. the names
of the parties, etc.
FOUND TO DE TRUE.
This weeks Citizen. which was issued yes
terday says: Last week we mentioned the
horrible death of a child in this vicinity and
promised that flour information WAS correct-
and we had no reason TO doubt it-that we
would give full particulars in this issue
Monday morning We started out and found
that our little notice OF last week was III no
wise contrary TO the facts ia the case.
I'VE have interviewed Mr.. and Mrs. Mitch
ell, the parents of the child. Mitchell is
good-lcoking man, with an open counte
nance and his wife a comely young woman.
They talked unreseryedly about the death OF
their child. Mitchell said: Yes, cir my chlld
died July 18th. aftersbeng sick five weeks.
When ii was first sick thought it was worms
and went TO Dr. Joseph ID. Anderson. He
gave me medicine eight powders ] only had
one when called in Or. Bowyer. DIR. Alder
son said that the powders were calomel.
went after him one night and he SAID he could
not come, but gave medicine which was III
bottle. My child got worse lie tDr. A. came
on Wednesday evening placed his hand on
the childs head and lett, That is all he did.
I'VE refrained,from asking, the parents about
the death of the child as we had heard and
published the horrible details.
THE PHYSICIAN CALLED IN.
sWenext called upon DR.. II. L. Bowyer who
was called in after the child grew worse under
DIR. Anderson. lie said: Yes, / was called to
see that Mitchell child When | first visited
it did not see that it was salivated, but
remarked that its breath smelt like salvation.
On my third visit plainly saw that the child
was salivated. saw il pluck its teeth out.
visited the child every day until three or four
DAYS before it died. The case was the most
horrible | have ever seen. IL there was any
santinine in the powders prescribed could not
detect it. That child died q most horrible
death | gave all the antidotes known for
salvation, caustic, nitric acid and chic
and the child died from 'cancrum oris.''
When went into the room where the child
lay / was compelled to use disinfectants, SO
horrible was the stencil Calomel IS not used
80 much as formerly. and it is owing to the
state of the patient's system whether
OF not salvation will tako place Five
TO ten days eapse before salvation takes
produce such result The dose l saw WAS
undoubtedly an overdose.
DIR. ALDERsoNs STATEMENT.
I'VE have learned from physician Of this
place that DR.. Anderson says he did not give
calomel. but gave bismuth.
Our columns are open TO DR.. A. for his
statement, for we would not do him injustice
for any consideration. We called at his house
twice Monday, but he was absent on profess
sional business.
Since the above was put in type we received
the following letter from DR.. Anderson. 1t
speaks for itself:
At your suggestion write of my treatment Of
the Mitchell case On the 10Th of juno Mr.. NJ.
asked for worm powders (calomel and santo-
nine). / gave him two.
On the 2Ist, evening he said he feared the
child had hux prescribed bismuth and lauda-
mum, three OF four doses, and promised a visit
next morning
On the 22d found the child had the prevailing
epidemic mixed diarrhea and dysentery) some
what controlled by the medicine.
Prescribed sub. nit. bismuth from six 10 ten
doses one 70 bo given every four to six hours as
necessary.
Visited the patient again on the evening Of
the goth and dismissed the case apparently
cured, directing them 10 nse the remainder OF
the medicine if the symptoms returned
That medicine q understand was not used
and If subject 10 test will prove TO be neither
mercurlal nor otherwise salivating.
While expressing very much sympathy for the
family in their great Affections, ! am justified in
saying no part of those aiiiicsons came by me