A Brown study

I was intrigued to learn more about Clarence M. Brown, the professor who incurred the wrath of my great-grandfather Gene for directing a production of "Can't Afford It" at the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association Convention to be held July 19-23 at Cedar Point, Sandusky*  I became even more interested when I discovered he was one of the two people who had any strychnine "under lock and key."

Marysville Journal-Tribune
Thursday, Feb. 5, 1925

Check Made. 

    Careful check was made yesterday of the supplies of strychnine in the possession of the college of pharmacy. There are seven bottles. Four of these, it was learned, still have upon them the unbroken seals placed there by the manufacturers. One, partly empty, has been in the possession of Dean Clair E. Dye and he says has been under look and key in a room separate from the dispensary. The two others are kept locked in the desk of Clarence M. Brown, assistant professor in the department and, he says, have not been out of his possession.

The (Zanesville, OH) Times Recorder
Friday, Feb. 6, 1925

FORMER ZANESVILLE TEACHER NOW ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

    Prof. Brown, assistant in the college of pharmacy and one of the custodians of the stocks of drugs, is a former teacher in the Zanesville high school and is an expert pharmacist, having been employed at a local drug store while a resident of this city and not actively engaged in his work as a teacher. His ability and carefulness will not be questioned for a moment by any who know him. The theory among the student body, and the probable solution of the mystery, is that in the hurry of filling capsules some student made an honest mistake and misread a blurred "strychnine" label as "quinine," being deceived by the similarity in the ending of the terms and like appearance of the powder at first glance.

 

Ohio State Lantern

Monday, Feb. 23, 1925

    Secretary Clarence M. Brown of the Pharmacy College feels confident that the Dispensary is, and has always been conducted to conform with the state laws, and does not believe that the ensuing investigation will result in any conviction of the supervisors, or throw any new light on the poison cases.

Prof. Brown was then mentioned in a letter written to my great-grandfather on June 15, 1926 by Theo. D. Wetterstroem, secretary of The Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association:

It so happened that Mr. McLean personally knew the ability of Dr. Clarence Brown of directing amateur plays from his experience in former years when connected with the Zanesville High School. In this manner Dr. Brown and his class at the O.S.U. was selected and not for any purpose of vindication or reference to what had occurred at the university. As to the selection of the cast this was left to Dr. Brown.

The (Zanesville, Ohio) Times Recorder

Monday, June 26, 1961 

Ex-Teacher Here Dies In Columbus 

    Clarence M. Brown, 74, who taught biology, chemistry and dramatics at Lash High School here from 1912 to 1920 and then became a teacher of pharmacy at Ohio State University, was dead on arrival at 11 p.m. Saturday at University Hospital, Columbus. 

    He had apparently suffered a heart attack at his home at 2425 Arlington road, Upper Arlington, Columbus. 

    A native of Galion, Ohio, he was a member of the Masonic lodge in Zanesville. He was a [1911] graduate of OSU and while teaching here had continued his studies to prepare for the pharmacy profession. 

    He was a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, three honorary pharmacy fraternities, the OSU Faculty Club, and was secretary of the School of Pharmacy until his retirement in 1953. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Columbus. 

    Surviving are his widow, Helen: a son, Dr. Gordon C. Brown of Ann Arbor, Mich., and two grandchildren. 

    The body is at the Deyo Funeral Home at 1578 West First avenue in Grandview Columbus, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Columbus Union cemetery.

Ohio State University Monthly, September 1961

Prof. Brown Dies

Professor Brown

Prof. Clarence M. Brown, associate professor and secretary of the College of Pharmacy for more than 30 years, died June 24 in University Hospital at the age of 74.

    He received his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University in 1911 and his master's degree in 1935. He had been a member of the faculty since 1920 and retired in 1953.

    Prof. Brown, who was born in Galion, O., became a high school teacher after receiving his degree from Ohio State. He taught at Logan High School from 1912 to 1913 and at Lash (Zanesville) High School from 1913 to 1920.

    He was an honorary member of Phi Delta Chi and a member of Rho Chi, a national honorary pharmaceutical fraternity. He was the author of numerous articles and textbooks in his field.

 

I was astonished to see he taught at Logan High School from 1912-13. I do not believe there was ever a LHS in Logan County, so he could have taught in my hometown. I wonder if great-grandpa Gene knew him?

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The French connection

Whenever stories are sent out by the Associated Press or other wire services, local editors can edit depending on space. As I was reading through my clippings and online accounts, I came across a new bit of information.

Two-ounce French bottle circled.

Unable to sleep as a result of the developments in the first five days, Dr. Clair A. Dye, dean of the college of pharmacy,  returned to the dispensary and personally examined all the shelves in the room late Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1925. 

Pushed back out of the way and with a coating of dust, the nearly full bottle was a square French bottle with capacity of two ounces. Previously unaware of its presence, it was not in an original container and it was his theory that perhaps the original bottle was broken and the odd bottle was used to rescue the contents of 300 grains of strychnine.

Instead of the ordinary printed label, the "orphan" bottle had a plain label on which the name of the poison had been lettered with a blue pencil. The identity of the writer was not known at the time, but was quickly identified to be professor William E. Keyser.

Dr. Keyser told the probers he had obtained the supply of strychnine the previous year for use of students practicing preparation of a standard liquid tonic containing iron, arsenic and strychnine. He said he had obtained it from the general chemical stock room in the building and. had himself labelled the bottle and attached the "poison'' warnings. Clerks at the stock room said the drug was doled out for use in pharmacy courses on order of instructors and only in peculiarly shaped sealed ounce bottles. Dr. Keyser did not explain to the probers why such a large amount of the drug had been obtained. Only a small quantity was used at the time in this practice work, he said.

It was also revealed that the rear door of the dispensary was left unlocked at night, leaving officials to wonder if someone not connected with the College of Pharmacy slipped into the building and purposely placed capsuled strychnine in the receptacle containing capsuled quinine.

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A bitter pill to swallow

One of the most interesting newspaper clippings* I found in my stash is this one. Reading it, I can't help but wonder who wrote it and where it came from. Did it bitterly amuse someone? Did great-grandpa Gene write it and publish it in his newspaper?

It took some research but I believe it was in response to news I found on the front page May 19, 1925 issue of The Lantern:

MAY COLLECT $6 FEE FOR MEDICAL SERVICE

    The Columbus Academy of Medicine last night endorsed a plan to install a new system of health supervision and medical service for Ohio State University, whereby $6 would be collected from each student to pay for all medical treatment.

    The amount of money obtained through such a fee would be about $60,000.

    At the present time a committee of the faculty of the College of Medicine is investigating the subject with the view of making a report to the President and Board of Trustees, Dean E.F. McCampbell said today.

    Dr. H. Shindle Wingert said he knew nothing of the project, but that in formulating his working policy he has tried to avoid anything that resembles state medicine, health insurance, or paternalism.

Ironically, just below that was this news:

New Four-year Course to Be Given in Pharmacy

    The College of Pharmacy, beginning next fall, will offer a non-optional four-year course in the place of the two and three-year courses now being offered.

    The change was decided upon at a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees.

    The purpose of the new plan is to raise the standards of the college and put pharmacy on the level with other lines of education, Dean Clair A. Dye said.

 *Please always identify newspaper clippings with the name and date.

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Secundum artem

OSU College of Pharmacy

I was interested in this torn newspaper clipping* that was saved by someone in the family. I do not know which newspaper it came from, but I suspect the Lantern due to the font, capital "L", and content. I shall update this if I ever discover it. (Letters appearing in the parenthesis are my guesses to missing letters.)

THE SYST(EM IS W)RONG

To the Editor of The L(antern?)

    Sir: Being an (Ohio) State pharmacy graduate, I (am) deeply interested in the prese(nt sit)uation. I feel a great deal of sy(mpa)thy for Dean Dye, upon whose (shoul)ders the burden of this investigation rests. I know of him as (a) man great for accuracy, system and detail.

    Accidental or otherwise, as the case may be, the practice of any druggist reading a prescription for two drugs written as R. and W. means nothing. A prescription coming from a doctor should be written in medical terms so that any registered pharmacist could fill it. I do not know whether drugs are furnished free to students or not; if not, a prescription should be given written in medical terms so as to be filled by any registered pharmacist as the law requires; if not, the method of prescribing is wrong.

    As stated above, R. and W. meant nothing to the druggist, as aspirin is a white powder not red (the color red is artificial), the practice of which should be discouraged by doctor and druggist. Had this prescription been filled by a regular registered pharmacist, as the state law requires, it would be an easy matter to trace the mistake if such was the case.

    A Loyal Ohio State Pharmacist

    Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

*Please always identify newspaper clippings with the name and date.

** According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition for "Secundum artem" is "according to the practice: in accordance with the standard procedure of a profession or trade." 

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Governor Donahey steps in

Now that the medical dust had settled at Ohio State University, it was time for the criminal investigation. And please forgive me when I say the Keystone Cops (fictional incompetent policemen featured in silent film slapstick comedies between 1912 and 1917) might have done a better job.

As Grandpa Fred said in his 1987 letter to Benjamin Balshone, R.Ph.:

After a while (t)hen Go(v)ernor Vic Danahey [sic] called for an investigation of the P(h)armacy Department and he appointed the Dean to investigate the tragedy (to investigate itself).

Grandpa Fred confused that a little. Dean Dye was appointed to head the initial investigation. When that was closed too early, Gov. Donahey weighed in. Donahey was originally a printer; in addition to working as a newspaper editor, he also owned his own printing company. I bet great-grandpa Gene personally knew him and pestered him with letters (possibly even telephone calls or telegraphs) despite their political differences.

I was thrilled to find this letter from Governor Alvin Victor "Vic" Donahey reprinted in the Feb. 20, 1925 issue of The Lantern: 

Text of Letter

from Governor

Governor Donahey's letter to Mr. Ford, dated February 17, follows in full:

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy,

Attention, Mr. M. N. Ford, Secretary, Columbus, O. 

        Gentlemen — The investigation into responsibility for the recent poisonings at Ohio State University, resulting in the death of several students and near deaths of others, must not be permitted to end until every source has been exhausted.

        I am convinced, from informal evidence brought to my attention, that the University Dispensary, from which, it is believed, the fatal drugs were dispensed, has been loosely conducted. The law requires privately owned drug stores to be in charge of registered pharmacists at all times. The evidence, as it comes to me, shows this requirement was not always lived up to at the University Dispensary, although it was a full-fledged drug store. 

        Owners of private drug stores, so conducted are prosecuted. The state itself should not conduct a drug store in violation of its own laws. It should be more painstaking than private individuals or firms in living up to the spirit and letter of the law. If the persons in charge of the University Dispensary were derelict they should be prosecuted just as private individuals would be.

        I am directing you hereby, therefore, to make a thorough investigation of your own with a view to prosecuting the person or persons responsible for the reported laxity in the conduct of University Dispensary and, if possible to fix direct responsibility for the dispensing of the poisons which caused the recent unfortunate deaths.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                                   (Signed) Vic Donahey,

                                                                        Governor.

###

As far as I can tell so far:

• Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1925: Ohio State University closes its internal investigation into the poisonings. City Police Prosecutor John J. Chester, Jr., says he will confer with Attorney General Charles C. Crabbe.
• Saturday, Feb. 14, 1925: Chester and State Pharmacy Board secretary M.N. Ford meet with Crabbe who tells them to continue the investigation. (Duh.)
• Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1925: Governor Donahey orders investigation of methods employed by the State Pharmacy Board.
• Monday, Feb. 23, 1925: investigation by the State Pharmacy Board begins, headed by Ford.
• Saturday, May 2, 1925: investigation by the State Pharmacy Board is nearly done, according to Ford.
• Oct. 3, 1925: Ford plans to submit a report "soon" to Governor Donahey covering eight months' investigation.

So far I can find no mention of its delivery, and great-grandpa Gene filled his suit against the State in December. Grandpa Fred said we had a copy at one time, but it was either lost or destroyed over the years. No other copies have been found at this time.

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Votes of confidence

It did not take long for two Votes of Confidence to appear at the University. The Board of Trustees met at the University on Saturday, Feb. 7, 1925. Present were L.E. Laybourne, vice chairman, 0.E. Bradfute, John Kaiser, Egbert Mack, Mrs. Alma Paterson, and Mr. Winters representing Vernon M. Riegel, Director of Education.

Action In Poison Mystery 

The following recommendation was unanimously adopted: 

RESOLVED, That the Trustees of the University express their profound regret at the unfortunate circumstances resulting in the death of two students, Charles Henry Huls and David Isaac Puskin, and the serious and almost fatal illness of others. The Trustees also place on record their approval of the promptness and care exercised by the University officials in their efforts to disclose all the facts. They also approve the placing at the disposal of the public authorities all available means and facilities of the University, by which may be ascertained all the facts pertaining to the case and the location of any responsibility for the deplorable situation.

The Trustees further express their approval and hearty appreciation of the diligence with which the city and county officials and their assistants are conducting the investigation.

Dean Claire Albert Dye

Meanwhile, on Monday, Feb. 9, 1925 more than 200 students of the college of pharmacy signed an informal, but heartfelt, petition expressing confidence in the administration of Dean Claire A. Dye:

"We, the students of the Ohio State University college of pharmacy, wish to express our confidence in yourself and your leadership.

"We know that you have not loaned, but given freely and unselfishly your time and assistance to aid in the movement to clear up the mystery of our recent tragedy.

"We feel, through personal contact with you, we are qualified to judge in this connection.

"We have been greatly benefitted by this association, not to mention your thorough instruction and good advice often given, and as often accepted,  always considerate, yet decisive."

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Strychnine vs. quinine

Unbelievably, a small headline in the Monday, Feb. 9, 1925 edition of the OSU Lantern caught my eye:

Not Strychnine or Quinine; It's Diamond Nine

By NORM SIEGEL

With strains of quinine and strychnine floating about the campus during the past week, a new nine has been added to the group—the diamond nine.

And under the supervision of Lynn W. St. John, another investigation has been opened on the campus, this one promising to bring more successful results than the first. 

...

Not a baseball diamond.

I was gobsmacked the first time I saw this clipping. As a professional journalist, I know the dark, morbid, and black humor that journalists employ when in the privacy of the newsroom - but to print this?! Nine days after Charley's death and eight after David's?

I wonder what Grandpa Fred thought when he saw that edition.

I wonder what the university's (second) athletics director Lynn W. St. John thought when he saw it, since he was partially responsible for putting together the clues.

Students weren't the only people in turmoil at OSU those first few days of February 1925. University officials were too. Once it was proven that strychnine had killed and sickened the students, and not tetanus (the first hope since it wasn't contagious) to spinal meningitis (which is contagious but at least the university was blameless for a natural disease) officials scrambled.

Capsules that hadn't been ingested were examined. Apparently the original white quinine capsules were of a different make and size of the introduced white strychnine capsules. Dean Claire A. Dye of the College of Pharmacy also insisted that there was no strychnine to be found in the pharmacy.

Oops, he then found on February 5 a small, one-ounce bottle containing about 75-300 grains (sources vary) of strychnine. But this strychnine was chemically different from the strychnine contained in the capsules.

Then they tried to claim that it was somehow accidental.

So how does someone mistake quinine for strychnine? Apparantly not easily. Quinine is more of a white powder such as powdered sugar, while strychnine is more crystalline like table sugar or salt. They look and feel different to those who handle alkaloids regularly. 

It is inconceivable nowadays to find poisons such as strychnine at a pharmacy. Quinine is a natural alkaloid that has been used for centuries in the prevention and therapy of malaria. Strychnine is a highly toxic, colorless, bitter, crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small animals such as rats.

By 1925 strychnine had no known medical benefits, although some still used small amounts as a nervous stimulant. One of the men questioned (the son of a pharmacist!) had a small bottle of strychnine that he had purchased in Columbus and used to help stay awake during exams!

More recently at the Rio 2016 Olympics in 2016, weightlifting bronze medalist Izzat Artykov of Kyrgyzstan tested positive for strychnine, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances. He was stripped of his medal.

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