MYSTERY DEATH

Feilding Star, Volume 11, Issue 4179, 28 February 1934, Page 5

MYSTERY DEATH

A Girl from Auckland SUBJECT OF SLIMMING A LONDON SENSATION INQUEST EVIDENCE VERDICT POSTPONED By Telegraph —Press Assn. — Copyright (Aust. and N.Z. Cable) (Receiver February 28, 9, .m.) London, February 26 Attention lias been called to the alleged dangers of slimming by tbe mysterious death of Miss Vivian Phileox, 19, a pretty New Zealander, born, in Auckland, where she won fame as an amateur actress, who was anxious to become a cabaret star in London, lint was fearful of overstoutness. Dr Justinia Wilson, practising in Wimpole Street; gave evidence that Miss Phileox on February 2 complained that her weight was interfering with her work although she was not abnormally fat. She weighed a little over nine stone, and her height was 63 inches. Dr Wilson prescribed steam baths, strong massage, radiant heat, and kekrysil, of which she took 850' milligrammes in a little over a fortnight. She complained of illness on February 21, but (lanced. She was given two omnipan tablets to induce sleep, and died' on February 22, a quarter of an hour after being taken to a nursing home.

Dr Neweombe gave evidence that the post-mortem suggested that dfiatli was due to asphyxia owing ’to oedema of the lungs, and congestion of the brain. There was nothing to account for it.

The coroner adjourned the case to enable tlie organs to be examined. Her mother told the Daily Mail that Vivian had been three years in England, and was most anxious to succeed in dancing. She obtained an engagement as a Maori dancer* at a restaurant in the Strand, but had only performed three times before her death.