OVERDOSE OF DRUG

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1935, Page 5

OVERDOSE OF DRUG

“NOT DELIBERATELY TAKEN”

GRAZIER’S ACCIDENTAL DEATH

SYDNEY, July 24.

Following an at, the City Coroner’s Court into the death of William Owen Ellis Fielding Jones, 35. of Drumalbyn Road, Bellevue Hill, who died at his home on June 30. the coroner (Mr. E. T. Oram) recorded a finding of accidental death, following an overdose of sleeping draught tab~ lets containing'diallyl barbituric acid. The coroner stated that the tablets containing the drug from which Fielding Jones died should bear a brand showing what dose might prove fatal. He said that this was the third recent death from the same cause that he had investigated. Evidence was given (hat the dead man, who was a wealthy grazier, and was well known in Sydney, had been suffering from insomnia, and had been taking sleeping draughts.

“There is no suggestion that the deceased deliberately took an overdose of these tablets.” said Mr. Oram. “There does not appear to be any doubt whatever that he died from taking an overdose of the drug. Suffering. no doubt, from insomnia for some time, he had been increasing the dose, and evidently took too much. One would expect that there would be some indication on these bottles of how many tablets might be a fatal dose. It seems to me to be rather dangerous for persons taking them, as there is no doubt that' a large dose will cause death. There is no indication whatever ’on the bottle in this case of how many tablets to take for a dose, and how many may prove fatal. It s'rikes me as' a rather dangerous drug to use.”