The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-26
new ANTIDOTE
DEVELOPED At
CITY HOSPITAL
Remedies for Treatment of
Poisons Available for
General Use.
REPORT BARES SUCCESS
Lilly Laboratories Assist in
Work; Food Cost Data
Is Gathered.

Antidotes for strychnine, cyanide
and bichloride poisonings have been
developed in the last two years by
the research department of City
Hospital and made available for
general use on emergency ambu-
lances all over the country it de-
veloped today as the hospitals an
nual report was made public.
DR.. Charles W. Myers. superin-
tendent, said development of the
antidotes was a part of a planned
program of the research department
and that the Lilly Laboratories had
assisted in the work and distribu-
ton
Thus far, DR.. Myers said, four
persons who have taken bichloride
poisonings in Indianapolis, and
would otherwise have died from the
effects. have been saved and are
alive today. Two persons have been
saved after having taken strych-
nine. but none from cyanide poison
ing because there hasn't been a case
of it since the antidote, the latest
has been placed in emergency am
balances.
Blood Diseases Analysed
All the antidotes are given intra
venously. and DR.. Myers said the ef-
feet on the patient is instant and
marked. In the case of strychnine
the patients almost Immediately GO
into commissions.
In addition to this work, the re-
search department is working on an
extensive inquiry into diseases Of the
blood and is making detailed study
of vitamins. Thirteen papers on
medical subjects written by mem
bers of the corps have been pub
lished in scientific journals in this
and other countries, giving the hos
pital international recognition.
But those are just a few things
that have happened at the hospital
in the last year Information in the
report is on widely divergent sub
| jects and is pertinent to home eco
Monies, governmental economics, So
! cial economics. and then there are a
few things that are just plain in
/ teresting.
Index on Food Prices
For instance Chome economics :
The best time to buy potatoes, from
a price standpoint, is November, the
worst, July; butter, June best, De-
cember worst: rib roast. February
best. July and August worst pork
chops, February best, September
worst.
Furthermore. the report shows
with actual figures how much the
prices on certain foods were changed
in 1884 through the drought and
recovery measures.
Eggs. pork chops and butter all
were reduced in price from the es-
timated figure. but onions. sliced
ham. lard, fresh milk and rib roast
ell were more expensive than past
records showed they should have
been.
Meal Costs Are Given
At that the department, prepar-
ing many special. and therefore ex-
! penSive diets for patients, spent an
average for the year of $.10131 q
meal. with the highest meal cost in
4 October at $.1i22 and the lowest in
April. at $0896
This comes under the head of
/ government economies what with
the county sheriffs in this state al
lowed by law a maximum of S.135 a
meal. and they have no special diets
to prepare.
AS for statistics of social signifi-
canoe, the report indicates that
/ there is a marked increase in the
/ incidence of social diseases. syphilis
/ and gonorrhes. A total Of 19,497
tests for syphilis were given dur
ing the year.
staff Is Enlarged
DR.. Myers said that the hospital
has increased its staff in the last
year so that when a patient comes
/ for treatment now. and there seems
to be an uncertainty about the orig
inal diagnosis. he is put to bed i'm
mediately and turned over to the
laboratory.
Complete tests are made. and
within "a hours the patient is I'M
der correct treatment and on his
way to recovery. generally. This
method. the doctor said, has been
substituted for the old procedure of
having the patient returned time
after time for call after call, simply
because his case couldn't be stopped
Immediately.
There was an average of 397 pa
tients day in 1929; 412 in 1888
and 42l in 1884