The Washington times., 1922-08-02
.PHYS|C|ANPENS
DIARY ASHED DIES
| Of POISON DOSE
Remarkable Document Found
After Milwaukee Doctor
Takes Morphine.
ny Cosmopolitan News Service.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Aug. g
Winding up his business affairs,
DR.. Albert ]. Herschman, 2702
Mckinley boulevard, former con-
sular agent here for Austria,
took twelve and a half grains Of
morphine, sat down at a desk in
his office, lighted a cigar and
calmly wrote down the symptoms
Of approaching death.
He was found in comatose
condition, stretched across his
desk, by the janitor Of the build
ing at $50 p. m. and rushed to
emergency hospital, dying in the
ambulance on the way.
Death Statement.
Prominent men daily comment In
the newspapers as to what they
would do on the last day Of their
lives, II, knowing fully that they are
about to pass away. All the state
nents that I have thus far read
seem bunk. Personally. have been
kept too busy on this last day in
the effort to straighten out matters
without overlooking anything that no
time Is left for pretty thoughts. Be-
sides, many clients interrupted me,
keeping me from meditation. / never.
theiess wound all up. and. at $40
d. m. took twelve and one half grains
of morphine, which will be sufficient
a quantity. but which works slowly.
Now at 6A6 p. m. j feel somewhat
drowsy, but far away from eternal
sleep. I intend to follow the NOR.
phine up by a draught Of cyanide OF
potassium, the deadliest OF all poi
sons, but am putting 1t off until the
morphine's effect will be more mark
ed and my extreme reluctance TO
swallow the nasty cyanide be over
come.
"Is Il not foolish for a man deter.
mined to die within one hour 10
rather walt than partake Of an un.
pleasant drink? Two seconds would
finish It all right away, still 1 am
musing and add more time to my
life which. in fact. Is already ended.
The morphine has put me In a con-
dition Of absolute mental painlessness.
l am not attempting to review my
past life. and do not try to look into
the future, as I believe that death
is near and that there In no here
after.
Thoughts With Wife.
my thoughts are with my be-
loved wife. whose love and devo.
ton has rendered me infinitely
happy for many years, and with
my two grandchildren, who uncon'
sciously brought sunshine to me.
But although I deeply regret
the grief my voluntary parting
from life for q time must bring on
my beloved ones, ill-health and
late reverses make my step desir'
able.
"7a7 .. m: Would I not know
that 1 have taken sufficient poison
to warrant results, l could not
notice II from my condition. Aside
from nuttering heart action and
contracted eye pupils, and moderate
drowsiness ] feel no effects. Still
I cannot make up my mind 70
swallow the cyanide. and have III
a cigar awaiting further increase
Of drowsiness and hope to be soon
able to coax me into the inevitable.
"7:42 p. M: am here yet,
hesitating to take this cyanide
My thoughts became blurred from
the morphine and a sensation OF
supreme quietude reigns over me.
II It was not for my beloved wife,
who Just phoned, 1 go on waiting,
but I am afraid Of too long a delay
because a lapsing into unconscious.
ness might result in being saved
by medical assistance. Ten more
minutes and then the end by
cyanide.
IT am In no manner kept IN sus
pense, just pleasantly and curiously
watching developments. Queer
enough, my only wish is I had an
additional handkerchief so that
could dispose of the surplus perspi'
ration. It being close and my hands
are clammy from the morphine ef
feet. "DR. A. j. H..
Below the foregoing, all of which
is typewriter was scribbled in pen
and ink: please see that the news
IS broken to my wife gently"