Prescription for death

Buerki

I've got some new theories to pursue. Dr. Robert Buerki, professor emeritus at The Ohio State University, wrote about the poisonings for his paper, Prescription for Death: The 1925 Ohio State Poisoning Case, which he presented at the annual meeting for The Ohio Academy of Medical History in 2012. Unable to read it in its entirety until now, I was thrilled to discover it was published in the History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals, Vol. 64, Issue 1, on Jan. 1, 2022. 

While most of his 15-page paper was a summary of previously resourced materials, Buerki did have access to some new information.

"On June 3, Governor Donahey forwarded to Ford an unsigned letter that he had received from 'some unknown source.' The letter added a bizarre note of conspiracy to an already tangled web of circumstances:

'If you really want to know the true inwardness of the poisoning at the University, put your best secret service man on the track of the first student who was taken sick. He can tell you much if he will. Why was he taken to St. Francis Hospital instead of the University Hospital? Why was Dr. McCampbell called about the case? The plot was against one man but it hit the wrong man. Who wanted a safe from the dental department "to keep all the strichnine [sic] in?"

'Who has been after Dr. Wingert for years and says he will drive him off campus? The fear of punishment for unintentional murder is keeping mouths closed, but it can be traced.

'The pressure is now on to let the matter drop 'because it will injure the University.' The inside facts can only injure the plotters. You are surrounded by athletic influences. Consult some others not under their control."

Ross

So is this "unknown source" referring to Robert H. Ross of Bellevue, Ohio? Ross became ill on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1925. He was diagnosed with food poisoning at the time and was the first to become ill according to my timeline.

McCarthy

Or is the writer talking about Timothy "Big Tim" McCarthy, a sophomore on the varsity football team who, as far as I know, was the only man rushed to St. Francis Hospital? He was also the last known person to get sick on Feb. 2, 1925.

Hmm.

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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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