Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-05
POISON SQUAD MEMBER
COLLAPSES UNDER TEST
Philadelphia Student in Serious
Condition for a Time, but
Has Recovered.
ARE SICK.
Every Member of Band Suffers
Nausea as Result of CAT
feline Experiments,

GNtTN NteIflDcF VI DHHu suffers
Nausea as Result Of CAT
feline Experiments.
Philadelphia, May II. - Serious
results have followed the feeding of
caffeine, a drug lurking in chocolate
as well as coffee, to the eight stu
dent members of the poison squad"
of the Hahnemann Medical College
here. All have been subject. to Sc
we're headaches and serious attacks
Of nausea, while one member Of the
squad was in such a serious condi-
ton after taking the c~affeine-laden
water for the first twenty days that
he had to be placed In q special ward
IN the hospital. He received con-
slant attention, has recovered and at
the college is said to have rejoined
the squad.
The poison squad" at the Hahne-
mann college was formed very quiet
~. 1t came into existence on March
l and Is under the direct supervision
Of DR.. Edmund T. Nesbit, director of
the Herring laboratory of the college.
DR.. Nesbit called for volunteers
from among the students. He said
ne wanted men who were willing to
40 something for the benefit of hui
mainly at large, even though 1t
might be to their own discontinue.
twenty-five students volunteered. OF
Inese fourteen of the most perfect
physically were chosen, eleven as
regular members of the squad and
three as alternates.
For thirty days the members of
the squad were given doses of caf-
RENE While DR.. Nesbit and his as
slstants made personal observations
taxing the pulses and temperature Of
the members of the squad and maxi
ing notes on their General physical
condition. 1t was not until within
the last few days that one memher
or the squad weakened under tha
experiment to such an extent that n
was necessary to send him to the
hospital. DR.. Nesblt refuses to re-
veal the name of the student who
collapsed, but declares that through
proper treatment Immediately he
soon recovered.
me caffeine was administered in
d solution and was mixed with tho
Mater the squad drank. The students
uia not know when they were gat~
ting the caffeine. There wera M
stated times for giving it in order 70
rep the mind of the student free
rom worry IN order that the physi-
cal condition might not be changed
materially through the action of iba
brain. n u 'he
Before Joining the "poison souad"
oach student had to sign a release
"s"tnSt any action for damages
against the college.
The laboratory was organized
spout fifteen months ago with Dr.
Nesolt as director, and almost imma
uIately an exhaustive study was
started to ascertain the destructive
qualides of caffeine as used in food
stuffs. Ill ioou
Inc students continued to live Of
the dormitories or at boarding 10
es, but they were required to take
thelr meals at the training able H.
GATED In the hospital near the die+
kitchen. Before each meal the tenn.
perature was recorded, the pulse and
Iesplra'lon were taken and the blood
pressure was tested. During the ne
rioo the drug was administered only
". Nesblt knew the amount appor-
tloned TO each man and when and in
what quantity it was administered
Ne" FORK Sun, May IL, 1912.