The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-19
some VERY
INTERESTING
STATISTICS

Chicago, Dec ID -(SpeciaD-Where are
the tens of thousands OF persons who are
alleged to be the victims OF patent"
medicines? That they do not exist at all
is the conclusion reached by a Chicago
statistician who has compiled figures re-
lating TO the injury or death OF persons
from the use, or accidental misuse OF
drugs, poisons and medicines
IL has been charged, by one or two
eastern magazines that patent medi-
cines are inJuring those who use them,
and, as these statements are TO be used
as the basis OF the arguments TO be made
Tor the passage, al the next legislative
session. OF laws prohibiting the sale of
these medicines, the figures OF the Chi
cago stotistician are OF unusual interest
and importance.
persons are injured by the use OF all
patent medicines, OF which it has been
possible TO learn the trade name or the
name OF the manufacturer, as are in
lured by carbolic acid alone is one OF the
facts proven. Carbolic acid is not in
cluded I'm the sweeping denunciations OF
ready-to-use remedies, however. probably
for the reason that II does not enter into
competition with the regular schools of
medicine as do the patent" medicines.
The compilation covers 697 cases. re-
during the period between Aug. 10 and
Nov. ]. As the services OF four clipping
bureaus were engaged 10 furnish clippings
Of cases Of poisoning there is reasonable
ing case that has occurred in that time
has entered into compilation.
None OF the 697 cases is a case OF suicide
or attempted suicide, or a case wherein a
drug or a poison was used with criminal
intent. The cases are actually those OF
accidental poisoning. or poisoning from
cines, drugs or poisons. or these cases
292 were fatal; 1871 being fatal to adults
and l01 10 chydren. Forty cases were OF
alleged malpractice, II of which were
p n " inNOiNp6
operations. Six were cases involving
patent" medicines. the trade name of
which could be learned by diligent en-
quiry. Fiye OF these cases were fatal:
Four were~ cases where overdoses had
been taken: three were cases where the
medicines had been left within the reach
OF childrn. who. childlike. ate or drank
the contents OF package or bottle.
There is not a recorded case where in
jury was caused by use according to
directions OF patent medicines. but
scriptons have been written or filed
wrong
In 2l2 Of the 697 cases the wrong medi-
cine was taken, or poison was taken in
mistake for medicine In 20S cases bottles
were left within the reach OF children and
in 96 cases overdoses were taken by mis-
take.
Carbolic acid figured in l41 of the cases.
or I'm one case I'm every FIVE. II was fatal
in 30 cases. OF these 81 were TO adults
and % to children. II was taken by mis-
take for other medicine 5 times and
left within the reach OF children IS times
II was administered by mistake of nurse
three times one old gentleman, carrying
a bottle Of IL fell breaking the bottle,
the contents OF which seriously burned
him one little girl. in play, rubbed IL on
the faces OF her playmates. all being Sc
r1ously burned.
Morphine ranked second with 6s cases
tc 10 atoIs
eight to children. II was taken by mis-
take six times. and left within the reach
of children 20 times. Overdoses were taken
40 times. q OF the victims being ha'bitues
1t was administered. direct by a physi-
clan once; administered 10 child by an
older chfld once, and administered by
medical student three times.
Laudanum ranked third. with 43 cases
rs OF which were fatal. 12 to adults and
TO children. IL was taken by mistake
16 times. left within the reach OF children
10 times and overdoses were taken II
times.
Strychnine ranked fourth with "a cases.
Is being fatal, five 20 adults and 10 20
children. II was taken by mistake seven
times: left in reach OF children 16 times
and administered by mistake OF parent
once
Ammonia ranked NTH. with II cases,
none Of which, however, was fatal II
was taken by mistake for medicine 10
times and left within the reach OF chill.
dren four times.
Three deaths are attributed 20 the use Of
bay rum as a beverage and nine deaths.
nearly twice as many as are traceabe 20
patent medicines. were caused by the use
OF Florida water as beverage
Fly poison figures in Is cases. and
caused death in five. alone being respon-
sible for more than twice as many cases
and as many deaths as all patent" medi-
cines.
Lye. In the period covered by the COS
cases. was taken by mistake for medicine
Eve times. and left within the reach of
children eight times, the use OF Il being
responsible for three deaths. In the same
time there were "a cases OF ptomaine pol
sonlng. resulting In nine deaths
Practically every known poison enters
into the 6e7 cases. and the figures show
that patent" medicines,
while they are probably ahead In the |
number OF times used I'm the average
are way behind when Il comes |
10 poisoning or injuring those who use.
or accidentally misuse them.