The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-05-30
PItIibIs Struggle Watched BY
Whole Nation
Took POISON BY MISTAKE.


held the attention Of the nation as per.
>aps no play on the boards has ever
lone, was the recent struggle Of B.
Sanders Walker, q young banker Of
Macon, Ca, against inevitable death.
Mr.. Walker. who was married and
had one little son. took one night
seven grain tablet Of bichloride Of mer.
.ury, mlstaki II for headache rem.
sdy. The error was not discovered
until several hours later. Nothing
then could be done TO counteract the
poison, which, II not removed from the
system q short dime altar Il ID taken.
ae6es all medical SKIN.
Mr.. Walkers 6rst intimation Of trou-
Bile was severe pain which rapidly grew
worse. He called physician and. AFT.
er a brief examination, was told a.
gently as possible that his death must
ensue within few days, perhaps with
In q few hours.
Stunned by the fact at nrst, Mr..
Walker soon recovered bis composure
and began arranging bis business az
fairs. He called an attorney and made
his will. Then he conferred with bust.
ness associates. disposing Of all mat.
ters that had been under his direct
supervision. After that he threw his
home open to the citizens Of Macon
and held "open house" to bid them all
farewell.
Az soon a. the nature Of Mr.. Wal
ker's illness was discovered the best
physicians available were called to at
tend him. A corps Of nurses also ar
eived at the home. and from that time
on the struggle was on In earnest
Heps u Rsssvsey.
Mr.. Walker was repeatedly swsated
in the hope that the poison might b
removed from his system. He was
also given intravenous infections Of
salt water at frequent intervals. and
once In twelve hours ths physicians
fed him Q pint oe olive oil. ssFe
There was temporary improve.
ment. and both Mr.. walker and bis
friends began to hope against hope that
be would throw on the powerful poi.
son.
"1Tl win out yet" he said cheerfully
when informed that his condition had
improved slightly. The physicians In.
formed him that no person in his con.
ditiOn had been known to live longer
than twenty-one days after tnklng the
poison. but he held to life until the last
ray of hope was gone.
News Of Mr. Walkers valiant battle
with death was telegraphed to every
important city Of the country and scat
tered broadcast by the press, bulletins
on his condition being sent out twi' e
or more each day.
In return from all parts Of the ma
ton kilograms were sent to the Walker
home by physicians and others who
had had experience with similar cases.
From Johns Hopkins medical school
that Mr.. Walkers life might be saved
II one Of his kidneys could be removed
and replaced by another from the body
Of person recently dead. Mercurisl
poison paralyzes the kidneys. the ply.
siclans pointed out; hence the only
hope was to transplant healthy or
gan.
DIR. Alexis Carrei has transplanted
the kidneys Of dogs and the animals
operated on soon recovered. DR.. Car
} rel IL reported to have said a similar
!: operation 10 possible on the human
body. BY the time that suggestion
reached Macon. however. Mr.. Walker
was SO weak that he could not have
survived the surgical shock Of the op
. Grafton.
Beginning Of the End.
; Gradually the poison did Its deadly
work. Mr. Walker grew weaker. and
bis pulse increased to an alarming
rate. Still he kept up his courage
: often getting out Of bed and going r
, the window to wave to the friend.
: who gathered In great crowds In from
7 Of tho house.
: Prayers for Mr.. Walkers recovery
, were offered In all the churches Of Ma
con and In many other cities. TIL,
= vigilance OF the nurses was unreient
ting. and every suggestion coming frou
!. reputable s0urces was tried by thu
, physicians In attendance.
Shortly after the last sunset Mr
! Walker was ever to see be called /,
. nurse to his bed and asked her wha
3 the physicians had said In whispere,
u consultation few minutes earlier.
did they say must die" he asked
III 40 don't hesitate to tell me. an
J. not afraid to die. Ny only regret 1
: that must leave my family"
The nurse, unable to answer his pit
e0us appeal. turned away. The doom
ed man had guessed Alright. Then h
became unconscious. and several hour
u later he peacefully brcathed his last
n When the news OF his death wen
u forth the entire city OF Macon wen
q into mourning for him.
Mr.. Walker spent most Of his los
J. hours OF consciousness playing wit
70 bis little son and trying to give hl
. young wife cournge for the shock q
y his death. which be knew was soon
come.