ELDERLY WOMAN’S DEATH

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23322, 4 October 1945, Page 4

ELDERLY WOMAN’S DEATH

Given Poison Instead Of Cough Medicine (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 3. The fact that she had been given a dose of nicotine sulphate instead of cough medicine was disclosed at the inquest held by the City Coroner, Mr A. Addison, into the death of Miss Mary Frances O’Leary, aged 71 who died at her home at Mount Eden on August 8. Evidence was given by Nancy Helena Falls that she had lived with her aunt for the last five years. They had been very hapy together and there had never been any quarrels. Miss O’Leary had been in bed for three days before her death suffering from a cold and witness obtained a bottle of cough medicine for her from a chemist. “I kept the bottle of medicine on a ledge in the kitchen.” continued witness. “At 6.30 p.m. on August 8 I made up the usual dose of medicine, a dessert spoon to a small glass of water, and took it to my aunt in her bedroom. Just after I left her room she knocked on the wall. I went back to her and she said she was going to be sick. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and then noticed there were two bottles on the window ledge one on each side. On examining the bottles I found one contained cough medicine and the other nicotine sulphate. I then thought I may have given my aunt nicotine sulphate by mistake and I did not smell the nicotine. I cannot remember which bottle I took the medicine from.” A verdict that the cause of death was nicotine poisoning through being given a dose of nicotine sulphate in mistake for cough medicine was returned by the Coroner.