Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-05-07
THE BLACK BOTTLE.
ONE OF THE sUPERsTlTloNs OF
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL.

| Ia.
move UnintereSting Patients-The Fata,
Bed Superstition - Ignorant Rounders
Spread silly Stories.
NO one can DO an inmate of Bellevue
hospital for any length of time without
hearing of the famous "black bottle -
The superstition connected with II is
very grewsome, yet it is believed in i'm
plicltly by many of the patients Brief
ly told, it is as follows:
The opinion is prevalent among tho
poor that Bellevue hospital is q school
OF experiment for the instruction of
young surgeons and physicians, and
that only cases Of peculiar novelty and
interest are wanted there. If patient
happens to be good subject for the
operating table or clinical lecture, he
or she is welcome to all that institution
affords; otherwise the sooner the Door
creature makes room for a more inter
esting patient the better Nor are the
physicians and nurses supposed to enter
tain any sCruples of conscience as to the
means they employ in effecting such
removals. In cases Of lingering sickness
where there is no hope of an ultimate
recovery they are supposed to hasten
the end by administering fatal dose
out of the mysterious black bottle. After
taking it the patient falls asleep never
to awaken.
This superstition originated from the
fact that morphine and other drugs of a
poisonous character used i'll the hospital
are always kept in bottles of particu-
larly suspicious appearance. They are
made of dark blue glass, with CORFU
gated surface, and are distinguished by
flaming red labels, on which is printed
the emblem of skull and crossbones,
fianked by the word POISON. Now, it
frequently happens that morphine is
administered to those who are dying of
painful diseases in order to mitigate
the severity of their sufferings, but the
ignorant patients around do not under
stand this. They see the nurse take the
dreaded black bottle from the medicine
chest, measure out portion of its con-
tents in glass and give it to their
comrade to drink. Then they shake
their heads ominously and whisper TO
one another i'll frightened tones.
'"They are giving him the black bot
tie. Poor fellow, they are tired of him
He's been occupying wanted room, but
he'll be ON his way to the morgue soon
enough now"
When the sick man dies, the other
patients do not attribute his death to
natural causes, but to the mysterious
poison contained in the black bottle. No
of reasoning could convince
hem otherwise. Once nurse tried to
argue an old patient out of the supersti
ion, but he maintained his belief in it
rs obstinately as ever and answered:
Don't tell me. I'll believe my own
,yes sooner than what other folks say.
L there isn't death in the black bottle
Why is it marked with skull and cross
zones? And why is Poison printed on
t? Tell me that -
1t is needless to say that the bottles |
poisonous drugs are SO la
,eled to insure the safety Of the pa
tents. The corrugated surface is
urther precautionary measure, for no |
ne could be mistaken, even in the |
lark, as to what such vial contained. |
The sense of touch would warn the |
lurse where that of sight might fail.
n Bellevue hospital the greatest care
s exercised over poisonous drugs. They
Ire kept under lock and key in strong
loset specially prepared for them in
he pharmacy, and the door is furnish
ID with an automatic arrangement that
ings an electric bell whenever IL is
'pened.
The black bottle superstition is by no
means the only one associated with hos
,itals. There are certain beds In almost
very hospital that are considered un-
ucky. The old hospital FOUNDERS know
hem and are probably responsible for
,eeping alive the superstition concern
ng them. A hospital rounder is per
on who makes capital out of chronic
.ilment He makes the rounds OF the
hospitals in precisely the same way |
hat the habitual yagrant makes the
ounds Of the police station lodging
louses, He IL pretty well posted on the
.ffairs Of the institutions that have har'
,ored him aud takes particular pains 10
mpart his information TO the other pa
tents. He treasures In his memory
very grewsoms detail that comes 30 his
lotioe aud that may serve 10 embellish
lis stories, II q new patient happens 70
No brought 10 the ward OF which he u
N Inmate aud laid on the DOT that ls
upposed 90 DO unluoky, he takes ad-
rantage Of the drst opportunity 10 steal
o his side aud whisper "Get them 20
move yer outer that bed as soon as yer
AN. Ye're couEtin death 10 lie there,
five have died la ID the past fortnight =
suoh An announcement cannot fan 70
inspire tho newcomer with terror, &C.
,eoially II he ID not educated above lAe
,elief Ia superstitions, yet u tho waFa
) full he Is compelled 20 occupy the
nluoky cot, a prey 90 tho most gloomy
The unluOky bed NJ al