DEATHS ON TANKER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19124, 19 September 1936, Page 3

DEATHS ON TANKER

MYSTERY REMAINS CORONER'S VERDICT ADELAIDE, 'Sept. 6. The coroner, Mr. filackburn, at the. inquest on Bernard Anderson, seaman, of the tanker Rritish Science, who died in. the Adelaide Hospital on July 25, found that death was due to haemolytic poisoning; ITe could not say what the poison was or how it was taken, lie was satisfied thai no suspicion existed against any person, and there was nothing to suggest that any person gave poison to Anderson, or that he himself took poison wilfully. Tims, a case which lias puzzled the doctors remains a mystery. Anderson and another seaman, William Hayes, became violently ill on July 21, but as they appeared' to improve later the ship sailed. However, they became worse, and. after the British Science had put back to Port Adelaide, the two men were taken to the Adelaide Hospital. Anderson died on the following day, but llayc-.s lingered lor a week, during which time numerous blood transfusions were made

Prominent scientists and doctors were puzzled as to the exact nature of the poisoning, and, in an effort to save Have's life, they worked day and night. A 'feature of the disease or poisoning was that the colour of the men's skiu changed from a healthy tan to a dark brown as their condition been me worse.

During the inquesl a doctor, in evidence, expressed the opinion that the poisoning was due to avsenurettcd hydro-