Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1879 — A Boy Takes Chloride of Sodium—Terrible Scene in a Lodging-House. [ARTICLE]

A Boy Takes Chloride of Sodium— Terrible Scene in a Lodging-House.

Early this morning a tremendous commotion was created in a lodginghouse on H street by an inveterate wag who ought to be taken care of at once. The man was lodging in the house, and about eight o'clock came down from his room and told the landlady that her little boy had found a box of chloride of sodium on his washstand, and had taken some. “ If yon can get astomach pump into him inside of an hour, he’ll live. Now, don't get excited. Keep cool. Put a mustard plaster on his stomach at once, and send for all the doctors in reach. You’ll be sure to find one at home.” By this time the frantic mother had the hoy stretched out on the bed, and was getting a square yard of mustard plaster ready. At the same time she dispatched three boys and a little girl for medical aid. “Here,” said the wag, ooolly, “I’ll leave you the name of the chemical on a piece of paper, chloride of sodium. Make no mistake, any doctor will know what to do the minute he sees the name. It’s all right; now, don’t cry. It won't hate the slightest effect under an hour. Keep cool. Don’t frighten tho child. I’ll go down and send up some doctors myself,” and here the man started at a brisk pace down town and had several dootors routed out of their offices. Meanwhile the boy, who was about nine years old, was bawling at the top of his voice, and some of the ladies from neighboring houses came in to help hold him on the bed while the mustard plaster was spread over his 'Stomach. Every woman who came in was shown thejiame of the poison written on the paper, and they ejaculated: "Mercy on us!” “Gracious me!” “Oh, my!” and “Meroiful heavens!" in concert. Presently the dootors began to arrive. Dr. Harris came a-tearing up the alley with a stomach pump, followed by Webber, Anderson, Conn, Prichard, Grant, Heath, Bergstein, and, indeed, almost the entire medical 'frWlW rt oity. with instruments and stomach pumps. At sight of so formidable an array the patient (on whom "the plaster Was drawing like a ten-mule team) set up a howl of despair.

“What has he token, madameP” asked Dr. Harris, hurriedly. “ Here’s the paper,” cried the mother, sobbing. “That’s the stuff he took.” The doctor read the inscription, passed it to the next man with a laugh, and it went round the group. Presently some one remarked: “ Salt, by thunder!” They explained to the weeping mother that she had been made the victim, as well as themselves, of a cruel hoax. There was a big laugh, but when that wag gets home to his lodgings to-night salt won’t save him.— Virginia ( Nev.) Chronicle.