COURT MARTIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1925, Page 4

COURT MARTIAL

PETTY OFFICER DISRATED

AUCKLAND. .June ‘2. The drugging efleets of aspirin, phenacetin, and the like were stressed during a court-martial held oil hoard H.M.S. Philomel to-day. when Sick p,;,y petty Officer Stanley Howard Bowen, dispenser on board H.M.S. Dunedin, was tried on a charge that, on May ‘23rd. he was incapacitat'd for Hit v as the result of taking a drug. Commander Somerville, ot H.M.S. Dunedin, presided, and the other members of the Court wore Commander Ho filer, H.M.S. Veronica, Commander Myles, H.M.S. Philomel. Commander Peters H.M.S. Dunedin, and Lieut-Coinninnder A aughan. H.M.S. Dunedin.

Mr .Tames Husking, barrister, appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Commander-Surgeon Richardson, of H.M.S. Dunedin gave evidence that on the day in question he visited the sick bay. which had been newly painted and varnished with shellac. Bowen complained of having pains in the chest and of sickness. Accused was slow in bis movements, was slurring in his speech, and evidently had difficult in talking. His complexion was muddy, his skin moist, liis breathing shallow, and liis heart sounds less frequent than normal. His lace was immobile. These symptoms, witness considered, could he produced by one of the tar derivatives, .such as aspirin phenacetin. and the like, to which accused lmd access as dispensei. Keplyinir to Mr Hoskin*. witmss stall'd that at the time he noted down that Bowen had evidently taken something. Bowen's normal speech w;S -low. hut it was below normal on May 23rd. Aspirin reacted more quickly on some people than on others. The taking of aspirin would certainly incapacitate the accused.

Ml- Husking: 110-. v many grains ot aspirin would be required to render a man incapable ol duty? Witness: Aspirin to some people is poison and obviously they can talc very little, if any. Any ordinary dose t„ ;m ordinary individual might make another person ill it he took it.

•Witness added that he knew some time ago that Bowen had been taking drugs, "and on May 23rd Bowen admit led that he had been taking aspirin. phenacetin. and caffeine . Air Husking: Have you ever heard if a single ca.-e of drugging with aspirin ? Witness: [ have read ol one ease. if the symptoms shown bv Bowen suggested poisining by aspirin, would that not make you most enrol til in your diagnosis, knowing that in yuur medical career of 2b years you had never had experience of drugging by aspirin.' I do not know that it was aspirin. 1 simply suggest it. .I*. 'plying in further questions, wil-

mss said lie was not aware that the painter who varnished the sick bay lloor with shellac had become ill in the course of liis work. A smell ot methylat'd spirits would be perceptible in the tarnish.

Mr Husking: Are you aware that I acre was a strong smell ol methylated spirits, and that Bowen slept in

the sick hay and was inhaling fumes; Witness: There was very little smell

Witness agreed that- the strong vapour ol methylated spirits would have an effect on a mail of the type of Dowell. who was not very robust, hut he added that the symptoms would differ from tim e found in itcetlsed.

Alter hearing further evidence, the Court found the aei lls-ul guilty and ;,:ih,.;r.l the penalty of disrating lo the rank of leading sick berth attendant.