DANGEROUS DRUG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

DANGEROUS DRUG

ACCIDENTAL POISONING OVERDOSE OF DIAL TAKEN USED TO INDUCE SLEEP At the resumed inquest at Alton, Hampshire, on Mrs. Marion Lilian Hamilton-Russell, wifo of Major the Hon. Arthur Hamilton-Russell, and sister-in-law of Viscount Boyne, the Coroner recorded a verdict that Mrs. Hamilton-Russell died from an overdose of dial self-administered with a view to inducing sleep. Mrs. Hamilton-Russell died on .January 15, at her homo at Neatham Manor, Alton, after lying in a deep coma for two days. She had gone to bed on Saturday evening apparently in normal health. When called by a servant next day she could not he wakened, and in spite of the attentions of a specialist and another doctor, died' the following night. The Coroner, who sat without a jury, giving his verdict, said: "I have thought this question over very carefully, and I can see no suggestion of suicide. She was living a perfectly nor-, mal happy life—a statement which is justified by the letters which she wrote almost up to the last hour of consciousness—and had made happy plans for the futuro. " I think the explanation must be that it was a very rough night, and when Mrs. Hamilton-Russell took a strong dose of dial it did not act, and she took another, perhaps even a stronger dose, without realising what she was doing. There is only evidence of the purchase of a single tube of dial,

hut she must have been buying it elsewhere.' She was in London on the Friday before her death,' and aould have bought several packets there. " I think I should emphasise the extreme danger that there is in taking poisons of the barbituric groun such as dial and veronal, unless strictly under a physician's orders. There may be a perfectly proper dose of what is a harmless narcotic in the conditions existing under a physician's care which can become a deadly poison under other circumstances. People should realise that these tablets are not just sweets to bo taken at will in order to gain a night's rest." Major Hamilton-Russell said that some time last" August lie bought a packet of dial tablets for his wife. That was the only purchase of the kind ho had ever made. Normal Letters The Coroner said he had copies of letters written by Airs. Hamilton-Riis-sell. There wore five letters and one postcard written between January 10 and 13. Three letters were written to Major Hamilton-Russell. The Coroner (to the witness): I do not propose to read these lettors, but were they perfectly normal letters?— Yes.

Did she in one complain of a rat or mouse in her bedroom, which kept her awake at night?— Yes. Ralph Fincham, a qualified chemist, prod tired a register which showed the sale of one tube of 12 dial tablets to Major Hamilton-Russell.

The Coroner: What is tho strength of each tablet? —One grain and a-half.

How many can you sell at a time?— There is no law to prevent you from selling as many as you like. Yoti use your descretion, I suppose. You could sell a dozen or 20 packets? —There is no actual law.

Mr. W. J. Wenham (appearing for tho manufacturing chemists): Is dial one of the barbituric derivatives, and within part one of the schedule of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act. 1908? Yes.

You knew Major Hamilton-Itussoll as an esteemed customer? —Yes. In every respect did you scrupulously and faithfully observe the provisions of tho Phrtrmacy Act and the Dangerous Drug Act in this sale? —Yes, in every way. 1

Mr. George E. Slim, analytical chemist to the Hampshire County Council, said ho found in the organs a small quantity of substance which gave tho reactions of dial. Ho was satisfied it was dial. The total substance found gave an amount of at least half a grain of dial. The Coroner: Can you say what was tho original dose?—lt is hard to say, but I think it was at least eight times as much. Drug's Delayed Action Dr. Cecil Hon son, of Hnrloy Street, London, who was called in when Mrs. Hamilton-Russell became unconscious, said that dial did not act immediately. It had a delayed action. Mr. Connor: It only has a soporific effect if tho patient is willing to meet trouble halfway?— Yes. If a patient wero disturbed he might think that the drug had had no effect at all and take a further dose?— Yes. Dr. Henson said that ho thought Mrs. Hamilton-llussell must have taken a series of doses of dial over a period of 48 hours. Dr. .T. H. Ryffel, of Guy's Hospital, said that in his opinion, as a result of tho tests ho had made, the minimum doso that Mrs. Hamilton-Russell took was 20 grains of dial and pdssibly as much as 50 grains. Mr. Wenham: What is a fatal doso? —The acknowledged fatal dose of veronal is 50 grains. Not so much is known about dial. Makers claim that tho safety margin is greater with dial than veronal.

" I should say that, generally speaking," added Dr. Ryffel, " a fatal dose of dial is 50 grains, the same as veronal. 1 think a man in fidl strength could recover from 50 grains. Men have recovered from 100 grains of veronal. If there is anything wrong with the heart the chances of recovery are so much smaller."