DRUG OF LAUGHTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 178, 11 May 1935, Page 6

DRUG OF LAUGHTER.

STUDENT'S AMAZING STORY. How he went off into "shrieks of laughter" after inhaling a drug was described at Cambridge by a 21-year-old undergraduate, Michael George Cox, of Pembroke College. Cox pleaded not guilty to driving a motor-car when under the influence of drink or drugs. i Police-Constable Woods stated that he saw a motor-car driven by Cox zigzagging along the road. It stopped about 18in from the nearside kerb. He went up to Cox, who said, "My whole career is at stake. Can't you forget all about it? I have been to Cottenham and have hadi a good day." When charged at the police station Cox replied, "All I can say is that I was certainly not under the influence of alcohol, but I was invited to sniff from a medicine bottle by my friend." Cox,, in evidence, explained that he had been to Cottenham, had had two pork pies for luncheon, and had taken four or five small whiskies and water. He was sober when he left Cottenham.

On the. way back his friend said he would get a bottle of a mixture which was rather amusing and) made one laugh. His friend had taken it in some London night clubs. They bought some and went to his friend's rooms, where he (Cox) inhaled and immediately went off into shrieks of laughter. He went upstairs to another man's rooms, where there was a sherry party, and had two glasses of sherry. Cox then drove away through the busiest part of the town without any trouble. "Dr. Cole, called as an independent medical witness, statecJ that when he saw Cox at 5.50 p.m. he came to the conclusion that he was -perfectly sober. Driving five minutes after inhaling the mixture examined would make one feel dizzy 'when getting out of a closed car into the open air. Cox was fined £2O, with £6 9s 2d costs, and had his license endorsed and suspended for two years.