DEATH AT THE HOSPITAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 3

DEATH AT THE HOSPITAL.

At the Hospital on the 19th inst. Mf H. Y. Widdowson, S M., held an inquest into the circumstances surrounding tho death of Abraham Alexander Geary, a carter, 32 years of age, who had died in that institution on the previous day. Tht* medical evidence showed that the deceased was in an unconscious condition when ha was admitted to the Hospital, and died several hours later. His body was well nourished, but was covered with sores, and the man’s clothing was in a very unclean condition. A post mortem examination revealed traces of acute anaemia, while the heart was in an advanced state of fatty degeneration, this condition being secondary to the anaemia. The actual cause of death was cerebral oedema, and the condition of the deceased was strongly suggestive of alcoholic poisoning. Evidence as to finding the man in an unconscious condition on the reclaimed ground was also given, and it was stated that the. deceased had been sleeping in the open at nights. He had done very little work of late, and was addicted to drink. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.