POISONED IN ERROR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14299, 19 February 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

POISONED IN ERROR.

STRYCHNINE INSTEAD OF

MEDICINE.

DOCTOR'S TERRIBLE MISTAKE.

Terrible in its consequences was the mistake of/a medical man at Fulham, the victim of the blunder being a woman, who died after agonising pains. »The doctor admitted that he had made a blunder, at the inquest, which was on the body of Mrs. Amelia Pratt, 40, of Burnthwaite Road, Fulham.

James Pratt, husband of deceased, deposed that his wife complained of internal pains, which she thought might have been caused by some cocoanut which she had recently taken. Witness was stage manager at the, Granville Music Hall, Walham Green, and about 9.30 at night he was called home. On arriving his wife, who had sent for Dr. Fletcher during the day, said to him: " That medicine is burning my inside out." I am dying. 1 only had one dose, and it is burning my inside out.'" Ten minutes later death took place. In the cieantime witness sent for Dr. Fletcher, who, on arrival, immediately used the stomtfeh pump and a large quantity of water. His wife died in a few minutes, and the doctor left the house. Not being quito sure that his wife was dead witness sent for Dr. Williams. Concluding his evidence, witness said: " There is ono thing I must mention. After my wife's death I found that the medicine bottle had been filled up to the cork. I could not account for that, as my wife said she had taken one dose, which consisted of two tablespoonfuls. The doctor went out into the scullery, and closed the door after him, but whether he did anything to the bottle I do not know. When Dr. 'Williams arrived he tasted the medicine, and after saying my wife was dead he took the medicine bottle away with him and went to. the police station. I inferred from that- that my wife had been poisoned." , Emma Copus said she was present when deceased took medicine she received from Dr. Fletcher. After taking it in a glass of water she became '* queer." and fell to the floor as if in a faint. Then

SHE STRUGGLED A GREAT DEAL, and Dr. Fletcher on arriving used a stomach pump. He then went into the wash-house, but- witness did not think he took the medicine bottle with him.

Police-Inspector Elliott stated that Dr. Williams came- to the station with a medicine bottle. In consequence of th© doctor's statements witness, in company with other police officers, went to deceased's house. Witness subsequently saw Dr. Fletcher, who said deceased was suffering from ptomaine poisoning, and he had prescribed for her. Before seeing Dr. Williams. Dr. Fletcher said he was prepared to give a death certificate, but after private conversation with Dr. Williams, said he would not give one. Witness added that he sealed the bottle which Dr. Williams handed to him.

Dr. Morris Williams, of Jerdam Place, - Walham Green said he found deceased lying on the bed, and from what her husband told him witness concluded it was a case of poison, and asked if deceased had taken any. The husband said she had taken some medicine. The woman had then been dead about 20 minutes. Witness tasted the medicine, and found it bitter, and diagnosed it as strychnine. At that time he had no knowledge that Dr. Fletcher had attended deceased. He was told it was another man, and he still further suspected it. The Coroner: Why? Witness: The doctor whose name was mentioned is in the habit of taking drugs, and I should not be surprised at anything he did. A Juror: What is the doctors name?" The Coroner advised that the question should not be answered. '

Dr. John Fletcher, of Dawes Road, S.W., after being cautioned by the Coroner, elected to give evidence. He was greatly affected while in the witness-box. He said his impression of what happened was that the patient came to him saying she was suffering from certain internal symptoms. He went to the eurgery to get some opium and chloroform water to give her as a medicine. About half an hour- afterwards he, was called to the house, and was told the woman was in a fit. -He immediately used a, stomach-pump, tried artificial respiration, and injected strychnine. He said to himself: "This looks'; like strychnine poisoning; have I made a mistake?" Telling the husband he Would try to remove the cocoanut that : the woman complained of, it suddenly flashed across his mind that the chloroform bottle and the strychnine bottle were about the fame size. The bottle of medicine" was here handed to Dr. Fletcher, who, after tasting the contents, said: "Yes; I have made a mistake in the bottle." Continuing , his evidence, Dr. Fletcher said the woman died, and he thought, " What am V to do with the bottle':" so he emptied a good quantity down the sink, and filled the bottle up with water and put it on the mantelshelf. He could not take the bottle awav. and there was the danger that the people in the house mieht not know what was in the bottle if he left it, in its original condition. That was why he filled it, up with water. He knew.

HE MUST TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES / of his mistake, but before he had time to settle on any line of conduct the. police came, and Dr. Williams and he agreed that death was due to # strychnine poisoning. / In reply to Mn/Leywister (for the Medical Defence Union and Dr. Fletcher), witness said that 'he made every effort to gave the woman's life after discovering his mistake. He realised afterwards that it was not a right thing to do to empty some of the medicine down the drain and fill the bottle up with water; but, on the other hand, it would have been a dangerous thing to leave it in the house. He had been in practice for 16 years in Fulham, and had never made a mistake before. He expressed deep "remorse for the occurrence. "';' : ' " v ": : ';-": r "- : ; v%' ;.'. iDr, Bernard Spilsbury, pathologist at St. Mary's Hospital, said death was due to exhaustion following the fits. He was satisfied that it was a case of strychnine poisoning. - , Mr. Leicester: Am I" right in saying that but' for Dr. Fletcher's frank admission it would have been impossible for you to say that the woman had died from strychnine — " _ Two local doctors having given evidence in favour of Dr. Fletcher, whom they spoke of as a skilful, careful practitioner, and a, conscientious and honourable man, the Corner, in summing up, said it was an extremely painful case ;• in the whole of hi»" experience he did not remember having had a more painful one. It was a terrible mistake to make, a mistake Which was found out by the doctor when it was too late to remedy it. It was due to the frankness of Dr. Fletcher, however, that that they could come to a decision as to the cause of death without an analysis of the .contents, of the stomach. Dr. Fletcher had eiven his evidence in a very frank and candid manner. The Coroner also commented upon the necessity for legislation in regard to poison bottles. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from misadventure." and asked- the Coroner to bring to the notice of the Home | Office the facts of the case, in order that legislation providing for the use of a distinctive form of bottle for poison might be brought about. .- -