The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-17
DR.NEWTON
SUCCUMbS
TO TABLETS
Well Known Physician Dies
After Facing the End
for Two Weeks
ESPECIAL 10 1HE rIxEs1

bichloride OF mercury taken by mis-
take nearly two weeks ago by DR..
Edward X. Newton of Whiting. fin
ally resulted IN his death yesterday
morning at the South Shore hospital
! in Chicago.
Interrupted by a telephone call
as he was drawing water for a
drink, DR.. Newton returned q few
moments later and made the fatal
error. That was April 4th.
HOW 1T HAPPENED
He was expecting a patient and
was dissolging two bichloride of
mercury tablets in glassful OF
water. This he sat down near the
faucet in his office. Then he drew
second glass OF water and va.
about to drink when the telephone
bell rang. He lowered the glass and
| answered the phone.
Returning later with his mind
still on the telephone conversation
he picked UP the wrong glass and
drank it contents
He explained later that he thought
the water tasted odd. but attributed
it to the chlorine treatment The
patient he was expecting came and
departed. DR.. Newton noticed
strange feeling creeping over him
and as it was still early in the
morning he decided to take a walk.
FALLS IN FAINT
He started west on Indianapoli.
boulevard. For a time he felt bet
ter but soon the trouble returned
worse than before. He walked sonae
distance further and then fell in a
faint.
Recovering control of himself. he
realized something was seriously
wrong. Then 1t suddenly dawred
upon him that he had made a ter
rible mistake. He realized he had
taken the mercury solution.
1t was only a short distance 20
the Sheffield Inn. He managed 10
walk to the place and hurriediy
asked Phil Smidt to rush him to the
Chicago hospital. Mr.. Snidt read
lily agreed to do so. short time
later the Whiting physician walked
into the South Shore hospital and
asked to see his brother. Dr. Lowell
CALMLY DIRECTS BATTLE
Then retaining his composure IN
a remarkable manner he informed
the hospital attendants OF his case.
I've taken bichloride OF mer-
curry" he said. Il just took 1t. Per
haps ve can save my life" Then
he calmly directed the desperate
battle which was made to ward of
death.
For taree days science struggled
against the poison but 1t was a los
ing fight. On April Z. DR.. Newton
and his attendants decided that
there was no hope and that death
was only Il matter OF days He
called in DIR. E. L Timm Of South
Chicago who has large practice in
whiting and turned over .h.- own
practice to him. Then he summoned
his attorney. J. II. Fetterhor OF
Whiting and arranged his will. A
1920 o'clock, the struggle was over
PARENTgIN CBowN POINT
DR.. Newton was thirty-four years
old the son Of Mr.. and Mrs. William
Newton OF Crown Point. where the
family had resided since 1905. H
was born at Calumet, Mich. Decen1-
Der 80. 1887. In 1918 he gradus ted
from the medical department OF
Colorado College and at once en-
tered the practice of medicine at
whiting
He remained at whiting until he
entered the service during this wal
He served twelve months overseas
with the Rainbow division and was
later sanitary officer in a casual
camp. Following the war he prac-
ticed at Crown Point and then re-
turned to Whiting just a year ago.
He is a Knight Templar and a
of the whiting Post OF the
American Legion.
DR.. Newton Is survived by his par
ents. Mr.. and Mrs. william Newton.
four brothers. Harry of Crown
Point. william Jr. Of Detroit. DR..
Lowell OF Chicago and Samuel OF
Warsaw. Ind. and two sisters, Hen
rietta and Helen OF Crown Point.
PLAN MILITARY FUNERAL
Funeral arrangements have not
been completed but the services Will
probably be held from the home in
Crown Point on Wednesday. A mil
itary funeral is being planned.
whiting Post having turned the ar
rang ements over to the Crown Point
Legion in accordance with a request
made by the physician before he
died.