BARBITURIC DRUGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22203, 5 March 1934, Page 11

BARBITURIC DRUGS

HOSPITAL SISTER'S DEATH

(From Ocj} Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, January 19. Twice recently Sir William JViUcox, medical adviser ,to the Home Office, has emphasised the dangers of drugs_in the barbituric acid group. Justificationfor. his warning was forthcoming in the death of Miss Oliver Garner, 41, a sister at St. Giles's Hospital, Camberwell., She was found dead in bed with the bed clothes over her head, and the inquest was adjourned at the first hearing, pending an analysis of certain organs. ; Dr H. 0. West, medical superintendent of the hospital, said that an unusual feature of the post-mortem was the prevalence of blisters on the body. Ibis occurred in certain kinds of narcotic P °Dr n John Addiman Gardner, -lecturer on bio-chemistry at St. George s Hospital Medical School. B aid that in certain organs he found luminal, but that the woman had not taken any enormous dose with a view to committing suicide, She had been the subject of chronic poisoning of barbituric acid compound. ' The coroner said ftiat Miss Garner had consulted a doctor with whom she was acquainted about sleeplessness. The doctor very properly prescribed the drug and the amount. She had charge of the drugs in her ward, and easily obtained possession of luminal tablets. He did not think there was any evidence to justify a verdict that she deliberately intended to take her life. The coroner added: . "It cannot be too strongly emphasised that it is extremely dangerous for members of the public to administer to themselves any of these barbituric acid compounds which have a potential source of danger to life." V : ■ ': < >