The Washington times., 1913-11-04
DEATH SOON
FOR MERCURY EATER
James Sampson, Who swaI-
lowed Forty Grains, Finds
Fight For Life Useless.

Rapidly growing weaker and with
marked congestion of the kidneys having
set in, James w. Sampson, the painter,
who last Thursday night swallowed
about forty grains of bichloride of mer-
curry, has but short time to live, ac-
cordins to physicians at Casualty Hos
pital today.
Sampson fully realizes his condition
and told the doctors today that he knew
the fight he had been making to live,
after changing his mind about wanting
to die, was useless. The patient, who is
derful vitality the first few days in
lighting off the effects of the poison
which ordinarily would have resulted in
congestion of most of the organs within
twenty-four hours.
Until last evening Sampson showed
no signs of congestion of the kidneys.
Prior to that time he had suffered some
rain in the abdomen and also suffered
with his throat. which was burned by
the btchloride. Sampson having chewed
the tablets before swallowing them.
Last night the kidneys began to sue
cumb to the effects of the bichloride.
and the condition became more marked
throughout the night This morning
he was suffering intense pain.
Regrets His. Act.
Sampson told the doctors again today
to live, but said he realized there was
no chance.
II was crazy when / did it, he said.
Now that | know / am going to die
everything looks different and l want
to live. 1t was family troubles that
made me do it and if had the chance
know l could make everything all
right
Sampson took the poison at the home
of his mother-in-law, SIS North Carolina
avenue southeast. On the way to Casu-
atty Hospital he fought DR.. william L.
Nelly. and made an unsuccessful effort
to take more of the tablets. After he
had been in the hospital few hours
he changed his mind about wanting to
die.
Mrs. Sampson last month filed suit for
divorce. who, on two occasions, had
been arrested for alleged threats
against his mother-in-law.
Ashurst Bill introduced.
With a view of preventing the taking
of bichloride of mercury by mistake,
Senator Ashurst of Arizona introduced
I'm the Senate yesterday bill which
proposes that corrosive sublimate tab
lets shall be in the form Of a cube and
shall be green. A penalty of 500 or six
months Imprisonment is provided for
violation Of the proposed law.
Congress can deal only with the ques-
tlOn In interstate commerce ana IN tne
District of Columbia, but Senator
Ashurst believes that if bill Is enacted
into law, sale Of the tablets in any other
form will be eliminated. The bill was
referred TO the judiciary Committee.
L'Engle Has Broad Bill.
A bill to regulate the manufacture.
importation and sale of poison will be
introduced in the House tomorrow by
Congressman Claude L'Engle, a Florida
Democrat, following recent cases of ac-
cidental poisoning by bichloride Of mer-
curry.
The LEngle bill provides that all
non-poisonous tablets. lozenges. or
troches shall be manufactured in
spherical or disk shape. Poisonous tab
lets, lozenges, or troches are to be
manufactured in cubical shape. Manu-
facturers failing to comply with the
provisions of the proposed law are
made subject to fine and imprisonment.