THE MELBOURNE BLOOD-POISONING CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6131, 18 March 1898, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE BLOOD-POISON-ING CASE.

A late number of the Argus states that the sulphate of atropia which was injected into the blood of Mrs Henry Turner by Dr S. I. Williams, under the belief that it was sulphate of morphia, has not been attended with the fatal result which followed that gentleman's treatment of himself. Mrs Turner has managed to combat the influence of the drug, and is practically out of danger. A post-mortem examination of the body of Dr Williams showed that both arms of the deceased gentleman were covered with punctures, due to his habitual use of the hypodermic syringe. Dr Brett, in his report, gives suffocation as the proximate cause of death., but adds that, in view of the history of the case, such suffocation was probably due to the action of sulphate of atropia. Mr James William Christophei's, jun., who supplied the poison, was behind the counter in his father's shop when Dr Williams called, and, apparently in a great hurry, demanded some sulphate of morphia. The light was failing at the time, and when young Mr Christophers went to the safe where the poison was kept he picked up what he believed was labelled " Sulphate of Morphia." The two tubes containing this drug and sulphate of atropia were identical in other respects, and, as Dr Williams requested him to "hurry up," and manifested other indications of impatience, Mr Christophers poured out the white powder and parcelled it up with more than ordinary baste. __

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