Citation

Wescott CD. The Chicago medical journal and examiner 1888; 56(3): 138-139.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1888)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

37619024

PMCID

PMC9888939

Abstract

At about half past two o'clock on the afternoon of September 21, 1884, Ole A., a terminal dement with melancholy delusions and suicidal tendencies, became possessed of a bottle of eye-lotion containing one grain of sulphate of atropia, and swallowed the contents without the knowledge of his attendant. The carpenter had gone into the attendant's room, leaving the door open. The bottle containing the poison had been carelessly placed upon the top of a wardrobe; the patient had noticed the poison-label upon it, and knowing where it had been placed, slipped into the room when the carpenter's back was turned, took it down, and swallowed the contents, with out being observed. I believe he swallowed the entire contents, for the bottle was found empty. The patient told accurately how much he found in it, and said he took it all. His desire to suicide was well known. Furthermore, there is no reasonable doubt that the solu tion contained the quantity which had been prescribed-- one grain.

At 4.30, or two hours afterwards, he was reported as being in a " sort of a fit," and in my temporary absence, was seen by one of my colleagues, to whom he seemed as if emerging from an epileptic seizure. His pupils were widely dilated, his muscles relaxed, and he was in a condition of stupor...

Language: en