The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-12
HIS BODY TURNED Blue
PECULIAR ACCIDENT THAT ALMOST
ENDED ROY MEssICK's LIFE.
Poisoned by an Acid That Got Into
His shoes and Was Absorbed
Into His Body.

Roy Messick seventeen years of age, of
11S0 Eugene street. North Indianapolis
after being thrown from street car and
accidentally poisoned and after being
hauled in from the country as dead WILL
according to the statement of Dr. Ira T.
Cox, at 1 o'clock this morning probably
recover.
His case is one of the strangest in the
history of this city. 1t was one of which
DIR. Cox pleaded entire ignorance, and his
success with the case was due almost
wholly to what is commonly termed luck, -
although the term is one which physicians
do not use in discussing cases
Young Messick has been employed at the
Udell works in North indianapolis as an
errand boy. Yesterday morning he was
sent down town for some things, among
which were two jugs of preparation used
In polishing the output of the factory. He
boarded street car to return to the fac
tory, carrying the two jugs filled with the
acid with him. In alightng from the car
he was thrown to the ground by the too
sudden starting of the car He fell head
foremost and both jugs were shattered
Their contents splashed over his Clothes
on TO his hands and face, and were broken
in such manner that a considerable guam
tity of the acid got into his shoes, saturat-
ing his feet
WENT ON HIS WAY.
He picked himself up, resumed his Jour-
ney to the factory, and at dinner time went
to his home During the time at the fac
tory, before going home he complained of
burning sensation in his feet He said the
feeling was such would be produced by
mustard plaster. About dinner time he
began 10 feel faint. At home he became
worse, and concluded not to return to work
in the afternoon. Thinking little of the
incident of the morning in connection with
his illness, he thought d bicycle ride would
brighten him up. In company with a friend
he started out along the Broad Ripple cycle
path. His feeling of faintness had in
creased, but ii was not thought to be any
thing serious. After riding for several
miles he found II necessary to rest, and
after sitting down for a time, became numb
throughout his body. After a time it was
noticed that his hands and face were as
Stunning a purple hue. The change in the
color OF his skin increased rapidly, and
finally he became Semi-consciOus. Effort
TO move showed inability to use his mus
cles, and his friend finally became desper-
ate, and Messick was put into a wagon
and hauled home. He was unconscious
and by the time he reached home his body
had assumed the dark blue color which is
frequently called "a black eye" DR.. Cox
likened IL TO the appearance of a finger nail
which had been dfscolored by a blow from
a hammer. He also likened It to that of a
dead body just entering into state of de-
composition.
When Dr., Cox was called Messick was
almost dead. His respiration was four a
minute and his pulse was so fast il was
impossible to count it, He said at the
time he thought there was no possibility of
saving his life. Re had nothing to Judge
the case from except the smell of the acid
which was strong Messick had neglected
TO change his clothes, which had been
thoroughly saturated from the knees
down. His friend who accompanied him
into the country said he had taken nothing
internally and from this it was evident
by slow absorption through his feet and
limbs. DR.. Cox worked with him until
after midnight when he left Messick. much
improved generally. but with his body
yet of purple color. very little reduced.
He thought there was little doubt as to
his recovery.
ODOR OF THE ACID.
The odor of the acid was of great
strength. 1t permeated the whole of North
indianapolis, andi all day long people won
dered what such a smell could be. DR..
Cox said the acid. whatever it might be
called contained prussic or hydrocyanic
acid, known TO the medical profession as
one of the most deadly and quick acting OF
poisons. Few If iany persons poisoned by
it. if taken internally. have recovered
IL stops the heart action almost instantly
and allows the blood 10 stand dead in the
blood vessels causing the body TO turn
blue purple almost instantly He
thought the fact that Messick was not dead
was due 10 a mixture Of the acid with other
drugs and the further fact that ii was
slowly taken into the system by absorption
only.
He said he was not positive as To the
nature OF the acid but every feature of
the case correspohded To the symptoms OF
prussic acid poisoning. Messick complained
early in the day Of "A burning sensation in
his feet as II theyi had been inca sed in mus
tard plasters, but THE flesh showed no signs
OF being bNstereC. DIR. Cox said the ca sc
was one OF the ktrangest in his practice
and was one which would interest physi-
clans generally.