The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-01-31
SUIT FOR $4,000
Wood Alcohol In Jamaica
Ginger Caused Blindness
CDR" George Brehm, of Rowlandville,
Cecil County, Was the Victim-CaSe
Kas OCCUPIED Attention of Superior
Court at Baltimore All This Week.

The suit of DIR" George Brehm. Of
Rowlandvllc. this county. against John
j. Gilbert and William +. Gilbert, trad
ing rs Gilbert Bros. druggists. of 'alti-
more. in which Dr. Brchm claimed $50.
600 damages. occupied the attention OF
the Supreme Court of Baltimore most II
this week. DR.. Brchm claimed the dam
ages for loss of cycsight, which he says
was caused by drinking Jamaica Ginger
alleged to have been prepared by Gilbert
Bros. and which he alleges contained
wood alcohol Il deadly poison. instead of
the pure article of which essences are
generally made.
DR.. Brchm is totally blind. and was
made so. he says, in July, 1898 by drink
ing three bottles of the essence diluted
with water. The three bottles We're
taken at intervals of two hours between
drinks and the after effects occurred the
following day.
DIR. Brchm was the first witness placed
on the stand and he was subjected To Il
rigid cross-rxamnation. The physician
had been accustomed TO drinking essences
of different kinds containing alcohol. and
brought on by whiskcy. These three
bottles, however. he said did not have
the effect sought but instead, he lost the
use of his limbs and body. The follow
ing morning, rs told by himself. he awokc
with Il racking headache and pains all
through his body. When his breakfast
was brought to him, he inquired why it
was served to him before daylight 1t
was then he realized that his sight had
left him. He received treatment ut the
Maryland University Hospital for blind
ness. but the relief offered him was only
temporary.
The witness had to he led in and out
of court and declared he was unable 10
see NJ all, his condition being attributed
to the drinking of the Jamaica Ginger,
which he alleges was put mp by Gilbert
Bros.
-DELVED INTO THE PLAINTIFFS
PAST.
When DIR. Brchm had finished his
direct examination. he was taken in
hand by Attorney John l.. Poe, one of
the lawyers for the defense. who. by his
cross-eXamnation. attempted to delve
into the Eastern Shorcman's past, and
position. The lawyer tried to show that
DR. Brchm was not Il regularly licensed
physician. which was admitted in II quail
flied manner by the witness. His knowl-
edge of medicine. he said. was acquired
in practical way on the Eastern Shore
He wnS accused by the attorney of fur
niShlng subjects FOR the Marylahh nj
versity Medical School. and he admitted
,i.1,; nah nntn al
however. was purely in the interest of
science. lie WAS asked polh'-niahh II III
one time he had not shipped dead
body from the Eastern Shore to the
medical and the box i'll which it was
shipped labeled oysters, nut TINS the
physician absolutely denied lie was
asked if he did not state 10 the hospital
officials when he arrived there for treat
ment that he had started on spree ny
drinking three pints of whiskey. and had
kept it up for three days ana had taper
ed off with the Jamaica Ginger.
~ ,r,, ,,,.,>,,
h''Ni llT WAS i''' i->"'
According to the testimony of DR..
Reid Hunt. of the Johns Hopkins Uni
talI ~ t,io - tIn ,hrno dosny n lama
lea Ginger which he took ON that july
afternoon, i'll lS',S. were actually pre-
pared with mrthyl or wood alcohol. DR..
Hunt was on the stand as an expert hS
to the effect of methyl or wool alr"h"l
upon animal life when taken internally
.;rn roi.nr ,ro,;n,, f,t,I whom piven in
,,,,t,,J dn.i.. r.m,lI, ,,u.in, blindness
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.,tI, 4ha ,,., ;n+aro,ti,,,, nort;nn nf hi.
taat;,'n,,,. n.n,. hi, ,ncn,nt of hiy axncri-
,,o,ts ,,to,, 'I,,.
~. IT' II,,n, III ,,,,.,,,.o1 ,u., ho,,thy
a;', ii"nt a,aa;,, ,, ~" rn ",,, u.inhin,, sl