Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-09-12
THE NEW ROUTE TO
DEATH ANDDESTRUCTION
Mercurial Poison Now the Favorite
Means for Suicide.
MANY CASES EVERYWHERE.
OF Fourteen Attempts in August Alone
But 0ne Proved FataI-SIow in
Its Action.

us ACtl0H.
In the wave of attempts at self-de-
struction through mercurial poison
ing which has swept over this coun-
try recently, Washington has prob
ably recorded as many cases as any
city Of its size. The local hospita Is
were called upon during August alone
to treat fourteen patients who had
swallowed bichloride of mercury tab
lets Annapolis had two Cases.
Despite the fact, however, that
me rcury is one of the most deadly of
poisons. but single death resulted
in ali this summer. Physicians as
sert that even this unfortunate in
dividual might have been saved had
the patient been mlre promptly
placed under their care.
Certain laymen have attributed the
increased number of attempted sui
cides by means of bicholrije of mer
curry to the publicity given to some
of the most recent cases. Members
of the medical fraternity. however,
refute this contention and say that if
bichloride tablets are being more
frequently used now by the despon-
Dent it is due primarily &c the fact
that this mercury compound has be-
come one of the most common house
hold antiseptics, and onsequently is
in easy acces of those who would
end their lives.
Publicity, they point out, is given
to all cases of suicide by shooting or
the inhalation of gas two means Of
selt-de struetion which are much
quicker and less painful than mer-
curial poisonipg--but these courses
are no more frequently resorted to
than in the past. 1t cannot be, the
physicians add, that the persons who
take bichloride of mercury regard
the death as an easy one. On the
contrary, they say, it is probably one
of the most painful and horrible that
may be imagined.
When the poison is taken into the
mouth it corrodts the membranes.
leaving the gums and tongue bare Of
skin and bleeding. On the esophagus
il has a similar effec., and when il
finally arrives in the stomach it
strips that organ of its lining and
causes the shire Dis to be cast Off.
While this attack upon th = mucuous
membranes causes intense suffering,
it is an effect from which the patient
may recover. 1t, however, is com
paratively minor effect. The prin.
eipsl damage done to the human sys-
TEN by mercury is centered upon the
kidneys. These organs it practically
eats away, unless promptly checked.
Even the most expeditions treatment
cannot completely save the kidneys,
and those individuals who survive are
permanently damaged, the physicians
assert.
Many Of the strong est poisons
cause instantaneous death. The mer-
curry victims, however, may linger
for days. 1t is, indeed, a Slow
death. If the sufferer can resist the
attack Of the poison for ten days, he
has a good chance of recovery.
Me anwhile, however, the mouth is in
such painful state that food cannot
be masticatsd, and even if swallow
ed, will not remain upon the dis
traught stomach.
The only antidote to this poisoning
which produces material results is
mixture of milk ami the white of
egg. Both milk and eggs contain a
quantity of albumen. The combina-
ton, when well stirred is more<palat-
able than the egg alone would be.
When this mixture gets into the
stomach it forms with the mercury
an albuminate which the system will
not absorb, and thus prevents the
poison from permestiug the body.
s. soon as this treatment has been
administered the physicians wash
out the stomach.
DR.. Harry S. Lewis, superinten-
dent of the Emergency Hospital,
Washington, who has treated a ma
jority of the recent cases, character
lied mercurial poisoning as one of
the most painful known. 1t not only
precludes the consumption of food
and leaves the organs in raw state,
he said, but attacks even the ex-
tremities Of the body and practical
~, for the time being, paralyzes the
toes and fingers.
DIR. Lewis attributed the increased
number Of mercury poisoning cases
entirely to the fact that the BIZ
chloride Of mercury is now to be
found in practically every household
as an antiseptic. In many instances,
DR.. Lewis said, the person who at
tempts suicide has no intention of ac-
complishing the purpose. The at
tempt, he said, is made more for the
eff sct which will be created upon the
would-be. suicides family.
For this reason, he said, he is
strong advocate Tor the enactment
of law applicable everywhere
which shall be similar to that now in
effect in New York, which makes an
attempt at suicide an offenss. DR..
Lewis also suggested the placing Of
more restrictions upon the sale Of
poisons, particularly those, which
while deadly in their effect, are char
acterized principally as antiseptics.
Beware OF 0intmeHts for Catsrfh That
COntain Mercury.