MADAME KARLE'S DEATH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1912, Page 3

MADAME KARLE'S DEATH.

CORONER'S FINDING. The Coroner's enquiry into the circumstances of the death of Gertrude Stevens, otherwise Madame Karle, formerly employed by Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains, was resumed to-day. Madame Karle wa* taken ill in the street on election night, and was subsequently removed to a private hospital, where she expired a few days later. After medical evidence had , been taken, the enquiiy was adjourned in order to allow of the contents of deceased's stomach being analysed. To-day, Dr. M'Laurin, Government Analyst, submitted his analysis. He stated that the apiol in the stomach could not have been more than one ; third of the amount contained in one of Steam's wafers, which, it was stated, deceased had been taking. Poibons may, however, have been absorbed in the blood. Dr. Kington Fyffe, recalled, said he had experimented with apiol with a guinea pig, the drug having absolutely no effect on the animal. Therefore he did not think apioloids were the cause of death. Altogether the case was peculiar, witness not having eeen or heard of a similar one. ;In returning a verdict in accordance with Dr. Fyffe's testimony that the cause of death was haemolysis of- the blood, with acute inflammation of the kidneys, Dr. M'Arthur remarked that death was apparently caused by the indiscriminate use' of drugs. There was absolutely no suspicion that any poison had been administered or that deceased had wilfully taken anything to deprive herself of life.