Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-07-09
WAS FULL OF NICOTINE.
Physicians Removed Two ounces Of 4
From Swelling.


From Swelling.
One of the most curious and inexpli-
cable cases known in medicine and sur.
gerry, says the Chicago Times-Herald, is
that Of Peter Menker. the keeper of a
grocery store at 405 West Lake street.
He is more than 50 years Of age and i
tho possessor Of magnificent ply
sique. Upto six months ago he had been
one Of the heal,hiest of men. lie was
vigorous and enjoyed athletic sports.
I There was none more robust looking.
He was up mornings by the break of
day and bad an appetite at breakfast
time that would have dono credit to an
army mule driver.
Along in February, however, he be-
gan to droOp. His spirits fell. He did
not laugh as was his won't. His appetite
was dismal failure. The only thing
that he seemed to enjoy was his pipe OF
tobacco and his rocking chair. These
were his constant companions. He could
not sleep. His friends advised the fam
lily to call in doctor. He protested.
Along about the lst of March a swell
ing having the appearance of carbuncle
came on his night hand at its juno
ture anteriorly with the arm just orer
the radial artery. 1t seemed as if il
might be erysip las, so DR.. J. W. Wild,
a physician living at Milwaukee and
! Chicago avenues, thought. At all events
the sore was treated as such.
Weeks went along and the patient
grew worse instead of better Poultices
were applied, hut they acted as irri-
tauts. Mcnker was finally compelled tc
go to his bed There he lay in semi
somnoleut state for days. Medicines did
not revive him, nor lotions allay the
throbbing pain caused by the gradually
growing sore ON his arm. 1t eventually
grew darker and harder and more sen
sitive. The man grew more nervous un-
Ill he was almost on the verge Of delir
Jun. More medical talent was consult.
ed. The swelling did not show signs Of
ripeDing.
1t was agreed to apply the lance, anc
this was done The diseased part wa:
then Of the size Of a walnut, almost a
hard and just as black. The gristle was
penetrated, and in the synovial sack was
found more than two ounces Of dark,
molasseslike looking fluid. 1t had d
sickening smell that penetrated the en-
tire house Upon examination it wa'
discovered TO be nicotine-nicotine al
most as poisonous as that found at the
bottom Of much used tobacco pipe
The wound was thoroughly drained and
antiseptics applied. The blackish look
ing fluid was preserved and tested. Bu
few traces If blood matter were discoy
cred, but the nicotine, III all of its dead
Is effects, was plainly apparent. Eff
teen drops given TO a cat resulted IN tn'
cats death.
Within "a hours Mr.. Menker began
to improve. A week afterward he wal
about his business He has now regain
ed his former yigOr, but he despises to
bacco in all its forms. He cannot bea-
TO smell its fumes. a pipe is more nau
seating than asafetida. 1t Is revoltin;
to all his nerves. and he believes tina
were he to attempt to use it in any form
again it would throw him into parox
ysms. He is the best cured tobacco use
that ever lived and is gaining fesl
since his rescue at the rate Of a hal
pound a day. Still he sells the weed
but in doing so he gives word OF warn
ing 20 each of his purchasers He ha'
been using it necessarily for more than
80 years in all Its various forms.
There is a great diversity Of opinion
among physicians as TO the genuincnes
Of the fluid taken from the sack. SOM
contend that it must have passed
through the heart in order to hay
found lodgment over the radial artery
and that, Of course, a drop or so Of nc
otine would paralyze that organ anC
produce instant death. But Mr.. Men
kor. his friends and his doctors declar
that it is nicotine. If it isn't, thcl
what is it," they ask.