PIHAMA FARMER’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 8

PIHAMA FARMER’S DEATH

HEAVY OVERDOSE OF DRUGS. EVIDENCE GIVEN AT INQUEST. Death followed the taking of a heavy overdose of paraldehyde and a moderate overdose of medinal, prescribed for high blood pressure and other symptoms, including insomnia, according to the finding recorded at the inquest upon William John Dickson, aged 54, farmer of Pihama, who died in the Hawera public hospital on September 2. The inquest was held at Hawera yesterday before Mr. R. S. Sage, district coroner. The finding was that the overdose of medicine accelerated death from toxaemia and added that no blame was attachable to anyone. Sergeant Henry said Dickson had been ill for some years. He secured some tabloids from a Hawera chemist on August 29, obtaining more the same day from the Hawera hospital. Dickson returned home but was taken seriously ill. He was removed to the Hawera public hospital on September 2, where he died the same night. Dr. E. S. Fossey, resident physician at the Hawera hospital, said Dickson was admitted to hospital about 1 a.m. on September 2. He was completely unconscious. He had prescribed for Dickson for some time for high blood pressure and other symptoms including insomnia. He described Dickson's state as one of heavy coma and gave it as his opinion that death was due to acute toxic myocarditis following on a heavy overdose of paraldehyde and a moderate overdose of medinal. It appeared Dickson had taken a 6oz ,bottle of paraldehyde and six tablets of medinal, the sodium salt of veronal, between the Wednesday and the Thursday night. The maximum dose of paraldehyde was a tablespoonful, or half an ounce, and the dose of medinal tablets was one a night when required. In Dr. Fossey’s opinion Dickson, owing to high pressure could not have lived long. Dr. T. N. Watt, Opunake, said Dickson’s blood pressure had been high for the past six years, and he had been taking paraldehyde for a considerable period. Dr. Watt detailed the treatment given for the relief of Dickson s condition at various times in the past few years. Dickson called on him on August 28, when he had a high blood pressure, irregular heart action, complained of insomnia and bad headaches, and was generally nervous and restless. He was so ill that in Dr. Watt’s opinion he should have been in bed, preferably in hospital. Dickson was given tablets of barbolin for his insomnia. The extreme toxaemia he suffered, apart from drugs, was in his opinion) chiefly the cause of death; the condition of coma may have been accelerated by an overdose of hypnotic. He had not seen Dickson, added Dr. Watt, since August 29. He had no cause to think that the taking of the paraldehyde would alter his opinion of the cause of death. He thought death could have arisen from cerebrae haemorrhage, heart failure following toxaemia or coma following toxaemia. He had not been aware of the other circumstances when he had given his certificate of causes of death but he had no reason to want to change it.

Mr. C. H. Westwood, chemist, Hawera, detailed the supply of paraldehyde, which he said he would not have -given to Dickson if he had known he was taking medinal tablets at the same time. If Dickson consumed the full bottle of paraldehyde as stated it would certainly be an overdose.

Mrs. Hannah Maria Dickson said the doctors did not know Dickson had bought the paraldehyde and they had . always tried to persuade him not to take it. She knew he had the tablets. Dickson took a dose on Thursday, spilling some. Later she poured some away and left only a little in the bottom of the bottle, which Dickson took on Thursday evening. Only two tablets had been taken by her husband as far as she knew, but six were gone. It was hard to say how much paraldehyde her husband had taken but her opinion was that he had become so used to it that it did not really matter. He had been in the habit of going to different doctors and of getting supplies, of paraldehyde from different chemists so that the quantity he was obtaining Would not cause comment. William Patterson, Hawera, a brother-in-law also gave evidence.

APPRECIATION OF SERVICES.

8 KAPONGA FACTORY MANAGERS.

In recognition of their good work during the season, Mr. A. V. Tait, chairman of the Kaponga Dairy Company, invited the factory managers to meet the directors at an informal gathering at which acknowledgment was made of the good work the managers and staff had done to produce a high quality of cheese. The chairman complimented Mr. E. H. G. Scott on his various successes in the show competitions, particularly in winning the Lonsdale Cup last year, and said he felt assured the managers were all giving their very best service to the company . The other directors also added their tributes and spoke of the value of cordial co-operation between all sections of the industry, mangers, staff, directors and suppliers. The managers, Messrs. E. H. G. Scott, D. McLeod and T. E. Eden,, each replied, expressing thanks for the recognition of their good work and assuring the directorate that it gave them great satisfaction to produce a first-class cheese. ITEMS. Patea Police Cases. In the police cases at the Patea Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., William Wilkinson, aged 18, was convicted and ordered to pay costs on a charge of stealing a coat valued at £4 10s, the property of George Woodhead. The magistrate, in imposing sentence, said there was a tendency for the young men of to-day to show carelessness in regard to other people’s property. Pita Hamiora. on charges of driving a' car through Egmont Street, Patea, on Saturday night, without head or tail lights, was fined 10s and costs on each count. Civil Cases. Judgment for plaintiff was given by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the following undefended civil cases at the Patea Magistrate’s Court yesterday: D. Roots v. E. J. Gray, 9s 8d; Patea Motors, Ltd., v. J. Drummond, £9 8s 6d; Patea HarbourBoard v. Fred Ward, £4 13s 9d; J. A. McKenna v. Albert Canty, £8 10s; A. J. Cooper v. A. W. Bourke, £2 18s. | Husband eats preserved eggs, thinking them new laid ! A wonderful tribute to “Ego,” the perfect preservative. !In 1/6 jars, leading stores. Try it I 4