The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-06-05
POISON SQUAD. MEMBER
GgLlAPsEs UNDER TEST
Philadelphi Student In Ser
ious Condition for a Time,
But Has Recovered.
coAIPANIoNs ARE SICK
Eery Member of Band Suf-
fers Nausea as Result Of
Caffeine Experiments.

~, 4 a...a J.
Z. PHILADELPHIA, May t1.llALsse{seirIn,s
results have followed the fS9 ding Of
caHeine; a drug lurking In chocolate
as well as coftee, to. the eight Student
members of the 'ipoisbns 1s1uatatl syiof
the Hahnematlh Medical College
here. All have been subject TO beyere
headaches and serious attacks 2 81
nausea, while one member sof4,the
SQUAD was IN such a serious condition
after tagging the caffeine laden water
Tor the first twenty days that he had
to he placed in q special ward In the.
hospital, He received constant attan-
,tion has recovered and atlStf1es college
as SAID TO have ret0tIed the squad, II
me poison squad at the Hahhe-
mann college was fomned very dutet-
~. 1t came into existence on March
and Is under the direct supervision of
Dr. Edmund T. Nesbit. director OF the
Herring laboratory Of the college.
;SDr. Nesbft 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 Mt
large, even though 1t might be to their
uiFcomfture. Twenty-Five students
volunteered, OF these fourteen OF the
most, perfect physically were chosen,
eleven as regular members of the
squad and three as aiteruatess"
For thirty days the members OF the
squad Were given doses of caffeine
while Dr.. Neslblt and his assistants
made personal observations taking,
the pulses and temperature Of the
members OF the squad and making
notes on their general physical cundi-
ton. 1t was not until Within the last
Jew days that one member Of the
squad weakened under the experiment
to such an extent that twas nseas-
sary to send him to the hospital Dr.
Nesbtt refuses to reveal the name of
the student who collapsed, but de-
clares that through proper treatment
tn1me diateiy he soon recovered.
The caffeine was administered in a
solution and was mixed, with the water
the squad drank. The students did
not know when they were getting the
caffeine. There were no stated times
for giving II IN order to keep the mind
of the student free from worry in or
der that the physical condition might
not be changed materially through the
action of the brain.
Before Joining the poison squad"
each student had to Sign release
against any action for damages against
the college. 80
The laboratory was organized about
fifteen months ago with DR.. NeSbit as
director, and almost Immediately an
exhaustive study was started to ascer.
tain the destructive qualities OF caf--
feline as used in food stufEs $50
The students continued to live at
the dorinltories or at boarding. houses
but they were required, to- take their
meals at the training table located III.
the hospital near the diet Kitchen
Before each meal the temperature was
recorded, the pulse and respiration
were AIKEN ard-the blood pressure was
tested. During the period the drug
was administered only DR.. NesbGt
knew the amount app ortioned to each
man and IiaenSand in what quantity
II was administered.
New York Sun MAY 1e. 1919.