IS HE DRUNK?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1938, Page 12

IS HE DRUNK?

INTOXICATION TEST^

EXAMINING THE DRIVER?

GUIDE FOR THE DOCTOB* 1

(By Telegraph.—Own WELLINGTON, this daj| Suggestions which could be of assip" ance to doctors in deciding the col f*" tion of a person charged with beingp , a state of intoxication while in chajg e of a motor vehicle were approved by f* e New Zealand Road Safety Council. |A report was presented by Dr. G. V.fFAnson and Mr. D. J. Cummings (C^ ,1 ' missioner of Police) setting out a seffe 3 of questions which doctors could jsk accused persons. Dr. Anson said d a *- a committee of the New Zealand br«*ch of the British Medical Association lad gone thoroughly into the matter, jnd had had the help of Dr. P. P. Lyniji. Dr. Anson said the committee -wfuld recommend the adootion of a stlndard form of test. It had to be birne in mind, however, that a medical oMcer

had no right to examine the suspected motorist unless the motorist agree! to submit to the examination; and they doubted tlife propriety of asking a person charged with being intoxicate? if he had consumed liquor, and if so,ihow much.

The form that had been set out -w«s in conformity with the recommendations of the special committee of the B.M.A- on tests for drunkenness, and was inteided only as a general guide for medical examiners, who should be free duct their examination in such manner as appeared to them most suited to enable them to arrive at a true'conclusion as to the condition of the person examined. New Zealand Form. The form, referred to above, set out that it was desirable that a medical practitioner should base his opinion on the following considerations:— :' (a) Whether the person had recently consumed alcohol; (b) whether the pereon was no much under the influence of alcohol as to have lost control of his faculties to such an extent *e to render him unable to execute safely the occupation on which he wae engaged at the material time; (c) whether hieistate was due wholly or partially to a pathological condition which caused .symptoms similar to those of alcoholic intoxication irrespective of the amount of alcohol consumed.

Temperature.—(a) Data tending to establish that alcohol had been recently taken: Smell of breath, suffusion of conjunctiva (bloodshot condition of eyes), flushing of face, tachycardia (state of pulse), admission of having taken alcohol, condition of tongue and lipi* condition of pupils, convergence of eye, and t re more.

(b) Tests to determine whether or not the amount taken had disturbed the normal behaviour of the accused to make him incapable of performing thedutv on which he was engaged: General demeanour and state of clothes, memory tests (time, day, address, recent and past event*), visual teste (estimation of distance), speech tests (eet phrases), co-ordination (manner of walking,- turning sharply, sitting down and rising, and picking iip email objects; standing On one leg with eyes shut, walking a straight line, walking to door and placing key in lock, writing, dialling a telephone number).

(c) Extra testa to eliminate pathological conditions, e.g., eevere fevers, acute lesions C.N.S., mental or nervons disorders, head injuries, effect of extremes of heat or cold, loss of blood, acidosis: Tendon reflexes, ekin sensation, head retraction, muscle pain. The form eet out that if from the first or subsequent tests applied the motorist's condition became manifest, it Mould be unnecessary to apply the remaining tests. The Commissioner of Police said the teste were a guide for medical men. The report was adopted and referred to a sub-committee. It was stated that it Mould be printed and circulated to police stations.