Experiment Might Cost Sight Of Eye

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 8

Experiment Might Cost Sight Of Eye

(Keu> Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December 5.

A boy may lose the sight of an eye as the result of his attempt to try an experiment he watched on a television programme last week.

He is Martin Maher, aged 11, son of Mr and Mrs J. N. Maher, of Titirangi. Last Friday Martin watched the programme “Gidget.” In the story the heroine attempted an experiment which involved putting nails into a bottle of water. She placed this by a fire and when the water boiled the bottle exploded. The next day when given the job of burning old wallpaper in an oil drum, Martin decided to try the experiment. He filled an old tomato sauce bottle with water,

screwed the cap on tight and threw it into the drum. Minutes later, as Martin looked into the drum, the bottle exploded and a piece of glass flew into his eye. He underwent an operation in Auckland Hospital. The surgeon later told Mr Maher that strong glasses may restore Martin’s sight, but it was a big “if.”

Tuberculosis Case.— One case of ptunonary tuberculosis was notified to the Health Department in Christchurch for the week ending December 3. A man in his thirties contracted the disease.