LAUDANUM POISONING CASE ON THE BARQUE GRASMERE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7403, 11 August 1885, Page 5

LAUDANUM POISONING CASE ON THE BARQUE GRASMERE.

A CON'SIDKBABLK sensation was caused in town yesterday when it became bruited about that Mrs. Raymond, wife of Captain Ray. mond, of the barque Grasmere, had been found on the previous evening in her cabin suffering from the effects of laudanum, and that it was with considerable difficulty that she had been rallied to consciousness and saved from death. Bat little is known as to the circumstances surrounding the affair—the moving causes of the incident—as all the parties interested are somewhat reticent. So far as can be gathered, it seems that Captain Raymond went to his wife's cabin and found her suffering from the effects of some narcotic, believed to be laudanum. He at once called upon Captain Munro, of the barque Altair, who visited the vessel with him. Captain Munro states he found Mrs. Raymond in a state which appeared to him to bo next to death's door. He at once advised Captain Raymond to send for medical assistance, and whilst that was being done, he took every means to keep Mrs. Raymond in an active state, walking hor up and down the cabin briskly. This Captain Monro kept up for some time, and during intervals of rest he had the sailors called in one at a time and told off to the duty of promenading Mrs. Raymond up and down the cabin. This was kept up in the absence of medical aid. Dr. MoMullen was sent for, and subsequently Dr. Evans waj called in. Through their unremitting exertions Mrs. Raymond began to recover, and at five o'clock yesterday morning she was again jn a more composed state mentally. The taking of the laudanum is somewhat enshrouded in mystery, but so far as can be ascertained it appears to have been her own act. Captain Munro and Mrs. Munro deserve great credit for their exertions in the ease, as they were on board the Grasmere assisting in the remedial treatment used to Mrs. Raymond throughout the whole of Sunday night. Mrs. Raymond is now regarded as out of danger.