EFFECT OF A DRUG.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 June 1925, Page 5

EFFECT OF A DRUG.

A NAVAL INQUIRY

A RARE CASE

(by TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, June 2. The drugging effects of aspirin, phenacetin and the like were stressed during a, court-martial held on board H.AI.S. Philomel to-day, when a sick bay petty' officer, Stanley Howard Bowen, dispenser on board H.M.S. Dunedin, was tried on a charge that on May 23 he was incapacitated for duty as a result of taking a drug. Commander Sommend He, of H.M.S. Dunedin, presided, and the other memmembesr of the court were Commander Horder, H.M.S. Veronica; Commander Myles, H.M.S. Philomel; Commander Pebens, H.M.S. Dunedin, and Lieut.--Oommnader Vaughan, H.M.S. Dunedin. Mr, .Tames Hosking, barrister, appeared for accused, who. pleaded not guilty.

Commander-Surgeon Richardson, of H.M.S. Dunedin, gave evidence that on the day in question he visited the sick bay, which had been newly painted and varnished with shellac. Bowen complained of having pains in the chest and sickness. The accused was ■dow in hisi movements, was slurring in his speech and evidently had difficulty in talking. His complexion was muddy, his skin moist, his breathing shallow and bis heart sounds less frequent than normal. Bowen’s face was immobile. These symptoms, witness considered, could be produced by one of the tar derivatives, such ‘as aspirin, phenacetin and the like, to which accused had access as dispenser. Replying to Mr. Hosking, witness stated that at the time he had noted down that Bowen had: evidently “taken something.’’ Bowen's normal speech was slow, but it was below normal on May 23. Aspirin-reacted more quickly on some people than on others. The taking of aspirin would certainly incapacitate the accused.

Mr. Hosking: How many grains of aspirin would be required to render a ma n incapable of duty? Witness: Aspirin to some people is poison and obviously they can take very little if anv. An ordinary dose to an ord.inary individual might make another person ill if he took it. Witness added that he knew some time ago that Bowen had been taking drugs, and on May 23 Bowen admitted that he had been taking aspirin, phenacetin and caffeine. Mr. Hosking: Have you ever heard of a single case of drugging with aspirin ? Witness: I have read of one case. Mr. Hosking: If the symptoms shown by Bowen suggested poisoning by aspirin, would that not make you most careful i n your diagnosis, knowing that in your medical career of 23 years you had never had experience of drugging bv aspirin ? Witness: I do not know now that 1 • was aspirin; I simply suggest it. Replying to further questions, wit ness said he was not aware that the painter who varnished the sick bay floor had become ip in the course of his work. A smell of methylated spirits would be perceptible in varnish. Air. Hosking: Are you aware 1 there was a strong smell of methyln l ■' spirits, and that Bowen slept in the lick bay and was inhaling the filin' Witness: There was very little smell. Witness agreed that a strong vapour of methylated spirits would have an effect on a man of the type of Bowen, who was not robust, but he added that the symptoms would differ from those found in accused.

After hearing further evidence the court found accused guilty and inflicted the penalty of disrating him to the rank of leading sick berth attendant.