ACCIDENTALLY POISONED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 3

A CCI DENTALLY POISONED.

AN OLD MAN’S SAD DEATH. The Coroner (Mr C. C. Graham) held an inquest on Tuesday, 18th inst., into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Robert Chalmers, a retired farmer, living at 53 Preston crescent, Bellcknowes, who was accidentally poisoned on Monday by being given a dose of vapor cresoleuo in mistake for some influenza mixture. The police were represented by Constable Macartney. Dr Evans stated that he knew the deceased, but had not attended him professional^-. He was in good health when witness saw him on the 15th instant, while on a visit to the house. On Monday ho was called by telephone about 12.20 p.m., aud proceeded at once to Mr Chalmers’s house, where lie found him in bed and quite iiioensible. The skin was cokl and a clanfiny, frothy mucus was exuding from the mouth. The breathing was laboured, with a weak, rapid pulse. Part of the mouth and tongue showed signs of corrosion. He passed a eott tube into the stomach and wasned o >4s. the contents. Ho also introduced a stimulant, and applied the usual remedies for presumed poisoning, but without effect. Tno patient gradually sank and died about 2 p.m. He made inquiries and found iliat a quantity of a proprietary preparation called ciesolcne had been given to Mr Chalmers by mistake instead of an influenza mixture. '1 he cresolone probably contained several varieties of cresoi, which had the same effect as carbolic acid. Ho came to the conclusion that the cause of death was paralysis of the cardiac and respiratory centres of the brain, the result of taking the crcsolene. The bottle in which the cresolenc is sold was labelled “ Poison” in black characters, but he considered that, as this preparation was poisonous and boro on it a label to that effect, it ought not to bo sold except in accordance with the provisions of the Poisons Act. Janet Chalmers, the wife of the deceased, was in deep grief on account of the fatal accident, in her evidence she stated that the crcsolene was kept, on the mantelpiece iu the bedroom, together with the influenza mixture. The crcsolene was being used as a remedy for the. baby’s cold. Her sight had been affected for a long time, and sire suffered from cataract. She had inadvertently given her husband a dose of the crcsolene mixture. The m stake was noticed soon afterwards, and her daughter gave the deceased a strong dose of castor oil, but it had no effect. Dr Evans was then immediately communicated with. Her husband did not speak to her again after taking the mixture. The Coroner said that the case was a very sad and unfortunate one. lie returned a verdict that death was caused by the deceased accidentally taking a poisonous mixture in mistake for • his proper medicine under such circumstances that there was no blame attachable to anyone. Tlio Coroner added that ho would call the attention of the Minister of Justice to the open sale of the poisonous mixture and the necessity for bringing it under the provisions of the Poisons Act.