GIRL'S DEATH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 3 November 1934, Page 14

GIRL'S DEATH

' SLIMMING AFFECTS HEALTH NOURISHMENT NEGLECTED ■ ' ' i (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. Evidence that the deceased had been affected by the ‘ ‘ slimming craze" was given at an inquest held before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, 8.M., into the death of Lottie Spittlehousc, 18, single, who was found in a serious condition under a hedge in Herne Bay on October 9, and who died in AuckAnd Hospital several'hours* later effect's of poisoning. For prior to her death-the girl had lived at Hit street, but her parents live at. ronsonby. , . Dr. W. H. Pettltt said that the deceased consulted. him. ' - She'said she had already been seen'by Dr. Miller, and; wa«. advised to discontinue her work. Witness gave her a tonic, and also advised her to give more attention to her nourishment, which she had been neglecting. Witness informed Dr. Miller of his. action, but Dr. Miller said, he w,afe t .; apprehensive of her condition, and she _ needed watching. On October, -5 - witness again saty deceased. . She* appeared to be even more--strained and nervous. Witness prescribed for her. ,Dr,. de- ’ eeasicdv'd , On Sdptem : bereS!l) he .t^ielsretjUa ieali.tic> the . house of fainiiy; l was told she h R d started the “slim-^

ming craze" and had been away from home for three months. Witness examined her, but found no organic disease. She was much below her former weight, however, yeas restlesspand in a state-of general debility. The mother of the deceased', Emily Elizabeth Bpittlehouse, said her daughter had left home on June 1, and was away until about six weeks ago, when she returned for a short period. ‘ ‘ She turned against me and her father for no reason at all" witness added. "I think she left home partly because she would not eat her food, and had a craze for slimming. After she had' been away for apine time I was told that she had gone absolutely thin. I saw her'and Induced her to see Dr. Miller. She came home again, but refused to take much food or medicine. She left us again on September 29."

The inquest was adjourned for the taking of formal evidence on the time and place of deceased's death.