David A. Scott

1853 - 1878  (25 years)

• Name	David A. Scott
  Born	1853	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	misfortune, accident, poison, life story
  Residence	1861	Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Methodist
  Misfortune	1878	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	accidental Morphine Poisoning
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-252794
  Died	17 Apr 1878	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I252794	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Adam Scott,   b. 1803, , Scotland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Ellen,   b. 1816, , Ireland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F228595	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Melancholy Death in Galt "In the midst of life we are in death." How terribly these words have been brought home to us during the past two days! From an active, vigorous life, to the cold embrace of Death, was but as it were a few moments and even yet it is hard to realize that the great conqueror has done his work so thoroughly, and that a well-known face has been taken from amongst us, never more to return. The death to which we allude is that of Mr. David Scott, eldest son of our well-known townsman, Mr. Adam Scott and the circumstances attending the death are of the most melancholy character. For some short time past, it appears, Mr. Scott has been troubled with what he thought were neuralgic pains in the head. On Tuesday morning last, his young child being threatened with an attack of croup, Mr. Scott called in Dr. Lundy, and after the child had been attended to Mr. Scott mentioned to the Dr. the occurrences of these pains in his head, which came on and left him at regular intervals. The Doctor told him that he thought these pains must be neuralgic, and that is so, from 10 to 12 grains of quinine, in a couple of doses, would probably relieve him; and further told him that if they came back again in that way, to send down to his office and he would give him what was requisite. Nothing further took place at this time; but during the afternoon it would appear that the pains returned for shortly before 4 o'clock Mr. Scott wrote out the following order, and sent it to Mr. Lutz's drug store "Galt, April 16, 1878, Mr. W. Lutz, Please give the Bearer 10 grs. of Morphine, and oblige. D. Scott" The order was filled by the assistant in the drug store, who put a label upon the package endorsed - "Morphine - Poison - Dose from 1/8 to ¼ grain" - and cautioned the girl who got the morphine as to its dangerous character. When she returned with the medicine, the label was red out to Mr. Scott by both herself and by Mrs. Scott; but the deceased merely made light of it and said "He should follow the Doctor's orders and not the Druggist's." He then took the package and mixed a dose for himself, which he took. A few minutes after taking it he felt much relieved of the pain, and remarked so to his wife as he was playing with his child on the floor; but a few minutes afterwards he made the remark that "he couldn't stand this any longer, but must lay down and have a sleep." He threw himself on a bed; and in a short time his wife noticed him breathing very heavily. She immediately went to him and endeavored to rouse him but found it impossible; and becoming alarmed she went to some of the neighbors, who came to her assistance. Finding all their efforts to rouse him in vain, medical aid was immediately sought; and in a very short time Drs. Philip and Brown were in attendance, Dr. Lundy arriving some time after. These gentlemen did all that human power could do to counteract the effects of the fatal drug, but all in vain. Mr. Scott never recovered his consciousness; and at 9: 40 on Wednesday morning he breathed his last. Both Mr. and Mrs. John Scott were absent from home when the fatal dose was taken, the former being at the town of Waterloo and the latter at the farm; but they were both summoned home, and arrived at the bedside of their dying son in a very short time. We may say her that there can be no doubt that Mr. Scott made a mistake in the name of the medicine spoken of by the Doctor, and wrote "morphine" instead of Quinine." We can only say in conclusion that the family and parents of the deceased have the earnest sympathy of their friends both in town and country in the terrible blow which has fallen upon them. Galt Reporter Apr 19 1878 pg 2

  
  

• Sources

  [S1837] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1861, Div. 1 Page 5.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1853 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1861 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Misfortune - accidental Morphine Poisoning - 1878 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 17 Apr 1878 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth