Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-20
TRIAL OF ROBERT \. HARPER
HEARING RESUMED TonANNt
THE POLICE COURT. .
Testimony In Connection With
Charge Of Violation OF Pure
Food and Drug Law. a

The trial Of Robert n. Harper CHARGED
with violating the pure food and drug
act Of 1903 by mislabeiing drug com.
pounds and selling mislabeled goods. was
resumed today before Judge Kimball in
the United States branch OF the Police
Court
DR.. Samuel S. Adams testified to the
general medicinal qualities OF antipyrine,
acetsnilide. caffeine and the bromides.
The witness stated he considers acetaniNds
the most dangerous and most uncertain
and powerful in its action OF all the coal
tar derivatives. and classes antipyrine as
also extremely dangerous to thu human
system. The effect OF acetaniiide on the
human body. DR.. Adams stated. is a
tendency to affect the spinal cord. DESTROY
blood corpuecles and to exert a dangerous
action on the heart. The effect of anti
pyrine was also described in the same
general way. The bromides were pro-
nounced nerve system destroyers.
DIR. Adams testified that the ingredi-
entS such as In the Harper compound
from the recognized chemical analysis
are all dangerous. and taken as a remedy
are liable to render the person taking It
systematically or repeatedly addicted to
its use.
DR.. Ruffin Testifies.
explained that in several cases OF aceta-
nilide poisoning treated by him the pa
tients took the drug without realisinG the
danger and had narrow escapes from
death. Asked If there was anything in
acetanilide. antipyrine and all the other
ingredients of Harpers remedy OF a nu-
tritious nature. the witness replied in the
negative.
The witness was asked to give his ooin-
ion OF the effect three doses OF the Har
per compound, as called for on the label
of the bottle, would have in forty min
utes on any one taking 1t. Tho witness
replied that possibly a single dose or
more would not have a noticeable effect.
but given indiscriminateIy or regularly
there would be great danger
Session Late Yesterday.
At the session late yesterday afternoon
DR.. Fl. w. Wiley, chief OF the bureau Of
chemistry, Department of Agriculture: :
DR.. L. w. Glazebrook, deputy coroner.
and DIR. Reed Hunt. pharmscologst Of the
hygienic laboratory, public health and
marine hospital service. testified.
DR.. Wiley was asked il the combination
of the ingredients of the Harper remedy
is Of q nutritious character a brain food
a remedy likely to build up the human
system. He replied II would almost act
In the opposite way. The general result
upon the system, he added would be such
as that caused by opium.
DIR. Glazebrook testified that he has
a patient addicted to the use of the Har-
per concoctien. a decided case of toxic
poisoning having developed, with genuine
addiction to the use Of the compound. DIR.
Glazebrook. expressed the opinion that the
combination is dangerous. and that few
physicians would give prescriptions call
ing for the ingredients i'm such proportion.
except in extreme cases.
Dr HINT nv rQUnaEt "a What he Ia
are the pharmaceutical values of the Har-
per compound ingredients, remarking that
both acetanilide and antipyrine are classed
as poisons. and caffeine almost a poison
ION the danger line" The witness further
declared that the Harper compound is no
cure whatsoever. relief from its use be-
ing only temporary, and the body tissues
suffering in consequence.