DEATH OF A HOSPITAL PATIENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8484, 16 May 1893, Page 6

DEATH OF A HOSPITAL PATIENT.

THE MORPHIA HABIT.

[PRE3S ASSOCIATION TELKORAM.] AUCKLAND, May 15.

At the inquest on the body of Oxlcy, who was found dead in Led at the hospital, it transpired that the deceased for twenty years had taken a large quantity of morphia to allay rheumatic pains. The post mortem showed that the cause of death was fatty degeneration of the heart. The dece:ised was a pensioner of the hospital, receiving 2s a week. The medical officer said the deceased took 30 grains of morphia for a dose, but did not get it at the hospital. The dispenser depo.ed to giving 13£ grains of morphia to the deceased in two days at tbe medical officer's order. The jurymen expresssed surprise that a man with 2s a week could "btain so easily morphia in such Jarge quantUies. The doctor thought that he got it from his friends. Another witness said the deceased did not buy it in the city. Two witnesses called were out of town. The jurors thought this strange, and stated there were many things they did not understand, but meant to before piving a verdict. They said tiiat if the deceased was in the habit of taking 30 grains of morphia it showed that poison could be eaailv obtained, and the xuatter must be been into.

The Coroner, in summing up, said he saw no ground for believing that the deceased had died from taking morphia. The verdict of the jury was that "Death had resulted from fatty degeneration of the heart."