MRS. RICKER DIES AFTER DRINKING CARBOLIC ACID

Drinking carbolic acid seems to have been a common way to suicide around the turn of the previous century. Newspapers of that time talk very openly about the causes of people's deaths, and death by suicide seem to be a topic that they gave much attention to. I think this story and the following one are good examples of the reporting at the time.

Urbana Courier-Herald August 6, 1910
WIFE OF UNIVERSITY DEAN SUICIDES

Discovered By Nurse at Champaign Sanitarium While to Act of Taking Potion, But Efforts to Save are Unavailing — Nervous Affliction Responsible — Had Threatened to Commit Suicide.

Mrs. N. C. Ricker, wife of Dean Ricker, head of the college of architecture of the University of Illinois, and one of the oldest educators in Illinois, 612 West Green street, this city, committed suicide at S o'clock this morning by drinking carbolic acid at tho Battle Creek sanitarium in Champaign, where she had been receiving treatment for a nervous affection for the past two months.

Mrs. Ricker had often threatened suicide and had begged for something with which to end her life, but this was the first time she had made an attempt to kill herself. She swallowed at least an ounce of the acid before being discovered in the act of draining a vial by Miss Anna Balding, her nurse, and despite heroic efforts of a physician, died within ten minutes. A stomach pump was used, but the unfortunate woman had taken too great a quantity of the fluid to be relieved. She died in horrible agony.

Nurse Discovers Act
During her two-months course of treatment at the sanitarium Mrs. Ricker had shown marked improvement and only at times did she manifest symptoms of returning mental trouble.

She arose early this morning and after an invigorating walk with her nurse, returned to her room. She seemed unusually cheerful, and Miss Balding did not hesitate to leave her alone for a few minutes, while she returned the breakfast tray. Upon reentering the room the nurse was horrified at seeing Mrs Ricker with a vial to her lips. She caught the odor of carbolic acid and springing forward, snatched the bottle from the patient.

Interfered Too Late
Interference, however, came too late, as Mrs. Ricker had swallowed a large quantity of the fiery preparation. A physician was called as quickly as possible, and by the time he arrived Mrs. Ricker was writhing in agony, and was rapidly losing consciousness. The stomach pump was used, and a quantity of the acid was removed, but not before it had done its work and the sufferer died in exactly ten minutes after taking the poison. The coroner and her husband were notified and the body was removed to the family home.

Act Occasions Surprise
The suicide of Mrs. Ricker occasioned great surprise among her friends and acquaintances in the Twin Cities. Although she had suffered from a nervous disease for several years she always seemed to he in a most cheerful frame of mind with no signs of melancholia. Several years ago it was necessary, to administer a course of treatment, her trouble having affected her mind.