The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-26
DRUGGIST MAKES
|. A FATAL MISTAKE
IN PRESCR|PT|O
infant Son of Captain LeMa-
surfer Is the Victim Of
His Error
DISCOVERY Is MADE
TOO LATE FOR HELP
Calornel Is Prescribed Over
the Phone and Corrosive
Sublimate Is Pnt Up
by Mistake

Az the result of q mistake made
by Thomas McGreary, drug clerk
employed In Fletchers drug store,
2661 Park avenue. by which the child
was caused to take corrosive subh-
mate instead OF calornei which had
been ordered by DIR. z. @. Gee. Robert
lionel LeMasurier, the infant son OF
Captain Joseph LeMasurier. 3127 West
Franklin street, died at O'Clock yes
terday morning in the throes or the
most intense agony.
DIR. Gee and DIR. st. George Grin
nan worked for hours over the dying
child, while the parents stood by in
helpless and frantic grief. The poison
had been administered at intervals.
the first doses, which were admins
tered by the father. failed to remain
on the childs stomach, and as the
uarenss had been told to continue
administering the medicine until the
child retained 1t. they unwittingly
filled the little fellow with one of the
most deadly potsons known TO medi-
cine.
Clerk Repeats Prescription.
The child had been suffering several
days with acute indigestion and con-
gestion of the liver. brought on by
something which had disagreed with
IL, said ur. Gee, and when the Ill
ness first became apparent DR.. Gee,
the family physician. WAS called IN
Between 1880 and II O'Clock Mon
day morning DIR. Gee teiephoned
Fietchers drug store, and asked the
clerk to put up two grains Of calo-
mel in six powders AS is the GUS
torn. when physicians telephone in
prescriptions McCreary repeated the
prescription no fsr. Gee and, the lat
ter states, understood that the medi-
cine was for q child.
TN..g .s~gz
der be given every half hour until
three had been retained, The child
vonaited up the first three. and had IL
been known then that IL was not
caiomei bat corrosive suhltnlate. that
WAS being given. the chlld's life coaid
have been saved. The child retained
the last three doses. and as the cor
tissue and membrane the child went
into mortal agony.
Discovers Mistake.
Within six hours after he had filled
the prescription. the drug clerk in
some way became aware of the fact
that he had made q terrible mistake.
and at once informed Mr.. /. r. Fetch
r., the proprietor OF the drug store.
He said, however. that he had pre-
pared one and half grains instead
Of two. Mr.. Fletcher rushed TO the
telephone and called UP DIR. Gee.
Telephoning to Captain Masurier not
to give any more of the supposed
medicine. and telling him to admins
ter the antidotes used IN such cases
! OF poisoning, DR.. Gee picked up r3r.
Grinnan and went ia the Masurier
home with all possible speed. The
child was even then beyond hope. but
every heroic measure WAS resortsd to.
The child's stomach was washed out,
and the white OF eggs and other an
tidotes were given. But the child
continued to become worse, and its
suffering was terrible to witness
Father and mother became hystericai
| and the phvsiciars had to give them
medical attention. Last night they
were prostrated with grief. The boy
had been their idol. and the useless
seerifice broke the parents hearts.
McCreary is n registered assistant
! drug clerk. and has been In the en- :
| pioy OF Mr., Fletcher for some time. II
II said that he stated afterw ards that
he misunderstood the order given oveH
the clerk repeated the order TO him,
n support OF which he brings in the
hrst TO realize that a mistake had been
made.
Coroner Investigates.
Coroner Taylor Investigated the case.
and decided 10 hold an inquest at 10
o'clock this morning. Mr.. Fletcher,
Mr.. McCreary, the two physicians and
otherH were summoned To appear as
witnesses. Detective Sergeant Wiley
Investigated the death from the police
etandpo1nt. and consulted with Coroner
Taylor as to whether to arrest the drug
clerk. The only charge which could
have been preferred against him would
bS-thnt OF involuntary mHHSfauEn1af
or criminal negligence. 1t has not
been usual In such cases to make ar
rests. and Coroner Taylor advised
against such course. since 1t might
tend to prevent McCreary from testify
nag when placed on the witness stand
Both he and Mr.. Fletcher were much
fatal result which had attended the
mistake. McCreary was not arrested
but allowed to go home.
This lis the third death within recent
IN hlling out prescriptions In the
Quinine. should have been used. Ir
the second lysol was given instead OF
laxol In all three cases the victims
were small children .Ss9s.ss5s.
Captain MaSurier Is chief clerk tn
the office of AdJustant General w. w
the adjutant in the. Richmond Blues
He is a man Of much military expert.
ence, and the chief delight of the deaf
boy waa to emulate his father In fan.
cied drilling. Last Saturday tho DO,
was taken into a barber shop to have
his hair cut. and while he was waiting
for hts turn he strutted UP and dowT
great amusement Of the BARRIERS ant
customers, and played soldier to hi
hearts content. He was exactly -four
years and one month old. He was this
elder OF two children, the other beins
girl seventeen months old.