The Sentinel=record., 1914-03-14
DECOMPOSITION TAKES PLACE IN REMEDY, MAKING IT DEADLY
 POISON TO THE SYSTEM.
MYSTERY IN POSl0N CASES
No Antidote Is Known for the Poison and All Who Were Treated with German Remedy in Los Angeles Hospital Subjects of Autopsy.

Los Angeles, March l3.--DeveloF- ments in the strange Neo-Salvarsan poisoning in which seven men lost their lives at the county hospital pre- sented an entangled complexity of facts which indicate it may prove a balfling medical mystery that may never be scientifically solved. A fur ther investigation will be made by chemists and pathologists.
 The autopsy was performed on the seven victims but nothing was found which would explain the poisoning. Drs. Stanley P. Black, Autopsy Sur geon Wagner R. B. Hill, Charles F. Whitman and A. F. Maisch made this investigation, but aside from a paraly- sis of the respiratory centers noth- ing was learned which is regarded as important An analysis of the Neo- Salyarsan which was receYed in the shipment containing the td5es used in the fatal treatments wI, be con cluded today by Dr. Lyman B Sookcy
 A tentative investigation of these capsules indicated that the Neo- sal. varsan was in proper form and there was nothing to indicate that i, had decomposed Deterioration which is one of the signs of deomp Neo- Salyarsan, was not noted, according to Dr. A. T. Charlton, who admins tered the treatment.
 The entire investigation is hinder5d by the fact that none of the Nao Sal varsan administered to the patients was saved. At the county hosr tal, when the treatments were given two tubes were used and the tu5es d.s- carded.
 Here are some of the theories wAich are given consideration 5y the inVes- tigators:
 First That the Neo-Salyaraan used in the treatments had deeomposed en route from Germany. This would ITO duce a poisonous product.
 Second. That the two glass con tainers had been slightly cracked. letting oxygen into the tubes from ing a poisonous product.
 Here is pr. Stookey's statement concerning the blood specific:
 Both Salvarsan and Neo-SaIvar- son decompose readily. Some of tue products formed ia their decomposi- tion are hydroxy anilin bodies, suh- stances belonging to the oenllle group and of very much greater toX- icity than either Salvarsan or NGo- Savarsan. During the past two years have seen more than half a dozen capsules of COG which were hlghIy discolored and evidently had decom posed Deterioration is not the ONLY indication of decomposition, HOW EVER"
 The condition of Harry Lane, the surking patient. dangerously iP at the county hospital, is being closely watched. Assistant Superintendent finders Peterson has taken personal charge of the case Lane condition is considerably improved.
 Mrs. Rosamond Wright, vice presi- dent of the California Antivivisection Society. stated yesterday that the of- ficers of the society would urge pub lie investigation of the deaths. Superintendent Whitman of the county hospital stated that the only explanation he could give for the seven deaths was that some toxic change had taken place in the Neo- Salvarsan given the patients which had rendered it deadly Although the superintendent said no investigation would be made by him it was reported last night that relatives ana irlehds of some of the victims might demand an inquiry, to ascertain whether the deaths were due to the remedy usea' to carelessness or to some other cause.
 Those who succumbed:
 Thomas King of 101 l-2 Wilmington street. ,
 Willard Leemon of the Natick Hotel
 Clare NJ. Mayham of 75O Maple aVo' nue. s
 Julius saurins of 744 East EishtA street,
 Jose McEgan of 6l4 l's Soutn Hope street.
 Charles Mclean Of iOl2 Pasadena avenue
 F ! Mason of the st. Elmo Hotel