ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11093, 2 June 1914, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

A DOCTOR'S DEATH. OVERDOSE OF SLEEPING DRAUGHT. [Per Peeks Association.] DUNEDIN, Juno 1At an imucst on the bcdy of the Into Dr Grahamo ,of Waikouaiti, the wife of the deceased said that about 4 a.m. yesterday ho rose from bed saying ho was going to get another doso of bromide, which ho was in the habit of takinrr. About 3 p.m. on Saturday ho h.;d taken a dose. When deocased went to bed he <ho\ved signs of having had-some liquor and after tho first doso of bromido ho became somewhat dazed and was restless in his sleep. Ho was considerably dazed when ho got up at four o'clock. Sinco Tuesday ho had been drinking_ occasionally but had not touched liquor for the previous thirteen weeks. Witness found bin n a stttp of collapse.

Dr Howdcn (Palmerston) stated that it was Highly probable that death was caused by an overdose of sleeping draught. Deceased was occasionally in the habit of taking some drink and it took little to'upset him. Witness did not think for a moment _ he was a man who would commit suicide. If tho deceased took the amount now out of the bottle in two doses between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. that would be. sufficient to Cause death.

Dr Harrison, who made a post mortem examination, found the early stages of pneumonia, and both lungs showed evidence of old trouble. Tho liver was congested and the heart slightly fatty. . None of these signs would cause sudden death but taken in conjunction with an overdose of sleeping draught would epeedily cause death, the resistance of the bddy being much lower through the use of the drug. A person taking an overdose of tho mixture at 8 p.m. would still be stupefied at 4 a.m. and would probably not be in a stato to judge the quantity he was taking. Tho jury found, "That the deceased died from an ovoici.se of bromide selfadministered, all tho evidence pointing to the fact that tho action was accidental, and that the weakened state of the organs shown by the postmortem probably assisted to cause death."

A SINGULAR DEATH. [Feh AssorsATioN.] . HASTINGS, Juno 1: At an inquest on the body of Andrew Tomb, aged fifty-one, single, who was found dead on the Havelock bridge on Sunday morning, the evidence showed the deceased had been drinking at the house of a friend at Havelock and left to walk to Hastings.' Apparently he safe on the rail of the bridge and went to sleep, and foil forward. When the body was found deceased was on his fcefc in a atooping position, his left hand'gripping the top rail,,"with his head hanging between his knee 3. His coat collar was turned - up arid buttoned tightly. A verdict was returned that death was due to asphyxiation whilst in a state of intoxication. Tho deceased was an old resident of Hastings and was in comfortable circumstances.

DUNEDIN INQUESTS,

[Pin Peess Association.]

DUNEDIN, June 1. The inquest on the body of William Bills, found near the end of the Victoria Wharf on March 30, was resumed to-day. The inquest had been adjourned sino die owing to the exact nature of the cause of death-not- having been ascertained by means of a post mortem examination. The police gave evidence that further inquiries had been made but that there' was no additional information. The Coroner said the medical evidence had shown that death was due to severe injuries to the head but whether these were caused accidentally or otherwisa there was nothing to show. He cou.d only, return what was practically an open verdict. An inquest was held this afternoon into the circumstances connected with the death of John Scrapie, 'labourer, who died on Saturday evening as the result of injurias to the spine through falling from a load of hay at Milburn. The evidence showed tnat a band , of straw broke with the >esult that deceased fell heavily to the ground. The spino was not broken but medical testimony showed that tne spinal ligaments had been ruptured and the injury was probably causal by momentary dislocation. A verdict was returned jn accordance witn the evidence, ao-blamo being attachable to anyone.