DEATH FROM AN OVERDOSE OF MORPHIA.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3058, 3 December 1878, Page 3

DEATH FROM AN OVERDOSE OF MORPHIA.

•M« H.^ Miehelmore/ the' coroner for SouW'DeVOn (England), has just >conoluded' af inquiry in;a case jin which deatK appeared to have been caused by the Inckotioiii use .of opiates. The. deceas^; Charles Henry Wills, of Kingskerßwell> who was a retired officer of the ftrmy,^e^t to bed on the evening of Sept. 25,a^pa|'on^y ipiiis usual health; Next morning."Jku qomplained of earache, and iretT&'utos hip, "tnedicine chest for some chloroform to;!put!into .his ear. .Shortly afterwards hen (became very , restless, exhibiting feverish symptoms. Mrs Wills gent for their Medical man; Mr Brown, of Kingskerswell, whe found the patient apparently in a deeip sleep,; his face and chesi'-liTtd, pupils .of, the eyes greatly contracted, arid pulse very lorn*;.; After much'eff^t'hC^as roused and ask;ed what he** liad', J %lieii, Jo which he replied, " ]fot^ing|'nptjrfng." .deceased's breath 'gave no indication of either opium or^alcohpl. Finding that he rapidly got worjßißi.Mr Brqwn concluded that poisoning by opium or its alkaloids (had taken place/and accordingly used the stomach pump,administering 'doses of strong coffee; and walked him about the room. This failing to do good, he was laid bnthe bed, and attempts were made to promote artificial respiration, which kept him alive for a time. Dr. HuxleyV of Torquay, and two othe^'medical men were called in, but in spite *of all that could be done death supervened early in the afternoon. In the dreSsing-room Dr. Huxley found a box of "half grain morphia pills," which, from the labels, appeared to have been made by "Arthur Cox, tasteless pill manufacturer, Brighton," and supplied by " J.Jvy. Cocks, pharmaceutical chemist, Torquay." Mrs Wills, deposed that there was not the slightest reason for supposing that her husband had committed suicide. Mr Brown said Captain Wills had long suffered pain from the presencfl of a fracturedhbone in one of his arms, and he had no doubt that he took these morphia .pills to allay the pain .and procure sleep, and that they were the cause of death. Halftgram morphia pills, the witness said, were exceedingly dangerous, and ought never to be taken without medical advice. The inquest was adjourped for the attendance of Mr Cocks, the chemist, who stated that he remembered supplying the pills to the deceased, who expressed a wish to have Cox's of Brighton. The witness observed, " It's a full dose," to which he replied, "I know it, but I have heen getting them from Dr Brown, and I don t care to be constantly troubling - him. The witness took the precaution of^aoelling the'box "poison." Captain Wills, who seemed to have some knowledge of surgery, had frequently obtained sedative medicißes at the witness's shop. Mr Brown said it was not correct that he had ever supplied the deceased with pills equal in strdngth to those in question.- The coroner, in summing up, remarked that the case verified the adage that knowledge is a dangerous thing, and hoped it would act as a warning against the-taking of poisonous medicines except on the advice of a responsible person. Ihe iury returned-a verdict of " Death from In overdose of morphia, contained m pills taken foe the purpose of alleviating pain and procuring sleep," adding a recommendation 'that morphia pills should be labell«dj'":0o?5r one to be taken at a time:" :J; ' '". . ■ —■

next comes not, the years speed on ; and alas I she wakes to find that she is a lass* no more, but an old maid, the damsel of unfathomable years and mysterious dimensions. Wildly does she paw the air in frantic efforts to escape her fate, and daubs herself with paint as recklessly as does! a painter's club lavish it on the side of a frame house on an August day. She uses all her arts to > make amends for chances lost, but all in vain; for even those who once have worshipped at her shrine pass badly by and softly murmer, "Notfc>rl6e," i

In the sixth age we see the wifel How lovingly she ministers to her husband's wants. How, carefully, she fries for, him the juicy ; itieak .tmtii! it irf done ft 6 a beautiful ebony, and bakes his bread until it is ditto. With what pathetic devotion does she persist in..placing the innocent tack in his slipper. How patiently she waits for her lord and master (?) when he is out late at night, and. how soothingly she parts the hair from his aching brow— in handfuls. How—O! who would not have a wife? The seventh and last age is the mother-in-law. She is thej master mechanic of the household—the bulldozer of the parlor and the kitchen. Her ingenuous brain is constantly occupied in attending to matters which should be let alone. She ip .better, than a diary, and can tell the exact hour her daughter's husband came home every night for any given number of years. Her voice is as sweet as the plaintive' singing of the mule and her wrath more terrible,than his kick. tis thy original "woman' with the iron 'and is the only practical illustration rpetual motion. In every case; man lies, but the mother-in-law dis-

girl boasted to one of her her father kept a but my father drives an triumphant reply;] '