TESTS OF SOBRIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18735, 13 December 1922, Page 5

TESTS OF SOBRIETY

LONDON COURT DISCUSSION DOCTOR AND COUNSEL. ‘ LONDON, November 25.' Tha discussion of the problem, “When, is a man drunk?” was lifted from the lowly level of the Police Court into tha heights of the Old Bailey, -when the Rey corder tried a motor bus driver oa ,a charge of in|uring a woman. The police alleged that the accident was due to the, driver’s drunkenness. The Recorder, who. has not long been appointed, frequently: evinces a desire to acquire knowledge, and he asked the police doctor what testa he employed. The doctor said he used the light test, which consists of flashing a light into the man’s eyes, and observing the speed at which tlie pupils contract. The Recorder asked: Do you use tha chalk-line test? _ The doctor said, “No,” and the Recorder remarked : “That is the unfairest test in the world. It is enough to make, a man drunk.” . The doctor interposed, informing conn-; eel that he doubted if counsel could walk' a chalk-line. Counsel replied that perhaps he could not last night, but he could to-day. , The doctor said he did not employ tha “ragged rascals ran,” etc., test, or the “British constitution” tost. The jury acquitted the driver.