The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-04
POISON SQUAD MEMBER
COLLAPSES UNDER TEST
Philadelphia Student in Serious
Condition for a Time, but
Has Recovered.
COMPANIONS ARE SICK
Every Member of Band Suffers
Nausea as Result of Caf-
feline Experiments.

Philadelphia, May 11.-Serious results
have followed the feeding of caffeine.
a drug lurking in chocolate as we'll as
coffee, to tile eight student members
of the poison squad" of the Hahne-
mann Medica College here. Al have
been subject to severe headaches ard
serious attacks of nausea, while one
member of the squad was in such q
serious condition after taking the cal-
feine-laden water for the first twenty
days that he had to be placed in a
special ward in the hospital He receiv~
ed constant attention has recovered
and at the college is said to have re-
Joined the squad.
The poison squad at the Hahne
mann college was formed very quietly.
1t came INTO existence on March 1 and
is under the direct supervisors of DIR.
Edmund T. Nesbit, director of the Her
ing laboratory of The college.
DR.. Nesbit called for volunteers from
among the students. He said he want
ed men who were willing to do some
thing for the benefit of humanity at
large, even though it might be to their
own discontinue. Twenty-Five students
volunteers. OF these fourteen of the
most perfect physically We're chosen,
clever as regular members of the
squad and three as ~alternates.
Fol- thirty days the members of the
quad were given doses of caffeine while
DR.. Nesbit and his assistants made per-
onal OBSERVATIONS, taxing the pulses
and temperature of the members of th3
squad and making notes on their gen
eral physical condition. 1t was not i'm
til within the last few days that ono
member of the squad weakened under
the experiment to such an extent thai
It was necessary to send him to the
hospital. DR.. NeSbit refuses to reveal
the name of the student who collapsed,
but declares that through proper treat
ment Immediately he 500 recovered.
The caffeine was administered in a
solution and was mixed with the water
the squad drank. The students did no
know when they were getting the CAT
feline. There were no stated times for
giving it in order to keep the mind of
the student free from worry in order
that the physical condition might nc
be changed materially through the &C
ton of the brain.
Before joining the "fpoison SQUAD
each student had to sign a release
against any action for damages against
the college. 81 Is = = > - = 8 = = y
The laboratory was organized about
fifteen months ago with DR.. Nesbit DIS
director, and almost Immediately an
exhaustive study was started to as
certain the destructive qualities of
caffeine as used in food stuffs. : .
The students continued to live at the
dormitories or at boarding houses, but
they were quired to take their meals
at the training table located in the
hospital near the diet kitchen. Before
each meal the temperature was re-
corded, the pulse and respiration were
taken and the blood pressure was test
ed. During the period the drug was
administered only DR.. Nesbit knew the
amount apportioned to each man and
when and in what quantity it was
administered.
New York SUNDAY Il. 1917.