Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-11-11
LABELLING pol.oNor, MEDICINES.

s=----==a-
LABELLING POISONOUS MEDICINES.
a few days ago w account was given
of the fatal poisoning, at Lramio,
Wyomin Of Mrs. &. J. Peterson, and
the narrow escape from death by a
similar cause Of her eight months old
child. Mfg. Petsr1u died on the
evening Of November o, o. result oi
taking two teaspoIn'us % brlla1onna
liuiment which was intended only for
external application. When admins
tered It WINS supposed TO be n
compound which the doctor had pres
cribcd Ter fever ML pclsr.on had
gone TO "a doctor flr como medicine Tor
his wife and child, who we're quite 81,
nnd for linimoLt tor Mia. Peterson.
Two prescriptions were g ven ana one,
which Mr.. Peterson supposed was the
internal medicine, wee msdr up by
ihU duggl.ps clcfs The other r.
qulred some little time for compound
log, 90 Mr.. Peterson fastened home
anu his vile took a dose Of the medi-
cine, on the bottle containing which
was the direction "Ute ne directed"
The baby spa: tho medicine out, and
thus escaped its effects, but Mts. Peter.
son was soon a corpse.
The matter was taken NJ by the
coronor's Jury, and a long aud search.
Jog investigation hell. At its con.
ciusion the jury did what every
cornner's jury In the country has not
the courage TO do under similar oircum-
stances. 10 fastened the blame upon
the person who was responsible for the
imperfect direction on the bottle label.
The doctor tried 20 throw the feaponsi.
bllity on the prpsctlptlou clerk, but
alter examining the evidence tho Jury
stated T. g. verdict that "thc mistake
which caused the death Of the de.
ceased was the resul, Of gross careless.
mess and negligence Of the attending
physician, DR.. Guthrie Burrell, In not
plainly writing on the prescription
anything 20 Indicate the dangerous
character o. the drug, or specific dir, C.
tlons for its use. The jury attaches no
blame % the druggist who Put up the
pr s'rlpiion Or 10 the husband who un.
consciously Administered H."
Too much care cannot be shown by
physicians In making out prescriptions
~ tho, their instructions may DO tx.
plicit and thoroughly understood by
those who administer the medicine. a
physician who merely has his pre-.
scHp,lons marked "Uss a. directed"
is unworthy the confidence Of pa.
tent. IL IL without the pale Of good
Judgment 10 require attendants un.
trained 10 medical knowledge 10 tax
their memories with directions rofEri.
Ing the use % drugs when their minds
are wrought up with anxiety for sick
persons, and the Laramie Jury oi D
good thing In giving forcibie uxpTes.
sion 10 their views Ia this ease.
Hut rhyslcisns arr not always 10
blame Ia instances OF wrongful i'd.
Numbering Of medicine The record
Of the medical fraternity here
40 uts q, that l,s members are
u-ually careful and capable,
though occasionally one msy be met
with who lie no, up &, the stan lard.
s mclimes the prescription ulerk Is 1T
fault; but more frequently than either
the cause Of errsrs In administering
drugs is ia the people not keeping
medicine bottles properly labeled.
Drugs are kept 10 the house and Labels
are rubbed ~; or sometimes brandy
and catbUlic acid are placed Ia the
same kind u flask, or Epson sails and
oXslic acid IN the same kind OF bottle,
etc, snd thus aid In causing fatal
mistake. 10 lsa serious blunder not o.
keep all lTugr, harmful aud harmless
alike, disIuctiy marked with u label
indicating their name ami nature.
When thcy are not 40 distinguished
thore Is always imminent danger Of
mistakes, pnd the lamsntable fact con-
urcitd herewith IL that In nearly
every err 0f this kind that is made
human life Ia Involved. II should be
an inf Nitlg W.c in every home that
whether there be- one botlle or many,
each medicine OF drug SHOULD be prop
cry, July and plainly labeled.