New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-25
DR.. Fitch, Lieutenant Med
ical Reserve Corps, Dis
covers Compound.
HAILED AS BOON
TO HUMANITY
New Drug to Contain BichIOride
and Tartar Emetic Use
less as Poison.

Danger OF death from bichloride OF
mercury tablets will be reduced to min
imum in the future II formula dscov-
cred by New York physician Is adopted
for preparing the medicine. The new
way of compromising the drug, il is held.
will be a safeguard to those who seek a
quick way to end life.
The reassuring statement was made
last night by Or. William Edward Fitch,
of 1855 West l45th St. who has devoted
time and research to discovering n means
to combat the eyer-growing mortality
by users of the mercury tablet Ills dis
covcry is looked upon with enthusiasm
by his fellow County Medical Society
members. who pronounce it a boon to
humanity.
DR.. Fitch's formula for the makeup Of
the future tablet. which he proposes to
give to the world for the benefit of man
kind. Is:
Seven and three-tenths grains of BIZ
chloride of mercury.
Seven and three-tenths grains ammo
mum chloride.
one and one-quarter grains tartar
emetic.
As explained by Dr. Fitch. the tartar
(antimonii ct potassii tartras). is so COM
pounded In the tablet that 1t will prompt
~ exert its full emetic action on reach
ing the stomach before the corrosive
sublimate (bichloride of mercury can be
gin TO exert it's violent; irritant and
deeply caustic action. This combination,
II is said will in no wise hinder the
bacteriocidal, germlcidal. disinfectant or
antIseptic work OF the bichloride OF
mercury. but on the other hand the tar
tar emetic will have a synergistic activity
or force.
THE physiological action OF tartar
emetic." DR.. Fitch said, produces pro-
longed nausea. violent and repeated
vomiting and retching. completely evacu-
atlng the stomach contents. So. no mat
ter whether such a tablet is taken ac-
cidentally or with suicidal intent, the
result will be the same in all cases.
II has the intention to advocate more
drastic legislation to prevent the sale
OF mercury tablets in dangerous form 10
the laymen He proposes TO limit the
sale of the poison in its present shape
only to physicians for their personal use
and to hospitals for institutional pur-
noses When sold to the laity II should
be made I'D in the form he has discovered
and which he says is harmless OF dele
FERROUS effects.
AT the present time he said, there
is insufficient legislation reasonably te
guard the public in connection with tn
sale of corrosive sublimate. No less thar
thirty-eight states have enactments pur'
porting to regulate the sale of the poison
but none fills the bill. AS yet no positive
safeguard has been given the public.
Among the physicians In the city e
whom DR.. Fitch has shown and explained
his discovery. and who are said to have
evinced enthusiasm over its possibilities
are DIR. NJ. II. Foster. Of the United State'
Marine Hospital. at Ellis Island. and Or
n. Edwin Lewis, editor OF American
Medicine"
Those with whom | have discussed my
remedy" said DR.. Fitch, have pro-
nounced il a wonderful discovery Physl-
clans can readily understand and appre-
ciate it's merits. They are all very en-
thusiastic.
when bichloride of mercury tablets
are made up according TO my formula
and legislation prevents the sale of tho
noison TO the laymen in its present form
tbere will be an end to suicides caused by