LYSOL POISONING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 9

LYSOL POISONING

DEATH OF LILIAN GREEN. ACCELERATED BY MENTAL WORRY. An inquiry concerning the death, of Lilian Maud Green, non Mcliveeu, uiio died at tiro Grand Hotel on biiuuay morning, was JiUU at tuo morgue oy Dr A. -UcArcnur, district coroner, yesterday. _. , , Dr ituart said that on inday he nas called to iho Grand Hotel and saw deceased, who was partially unconscious, and ho attended her. lie had previously attended her in November last. She had ear trouble, and there were indications of brain trouble as the result of the affection of the ear. Ho advised her to consult an ear specialist. Ho knew sho was in the habit of taking veronal to induce sleep. When lie saw her he believed sho was suffering from veronal poisoning, lie saw her on three occasions, and on Saturday he saw her twice, the second time at 10 p.m. Sho was then conscious, but her mind was somewhat confused. She was able to toll witness she had taken four tabloids of veronal. Each tabloid contained .5 drachms. Sho said she had taken these to induce sleep. He left her sister with her on Saturday night. At 5 a.m. on Sunday ho received another call, and found her in a dying condition. Her mouth and lips were burned, and the stomach contents smelt strongly of lysol. He remained about two and a half hours, and sho was then getting worse. He called about 10 a.m. and found that sho had just died. Ho found in the room a bottle and tumbler containing a small quantity of lysol. AVitness did not know deceased had any lysol in tho room. Sho was not fully conscious of what sho did. On Saturday night she was able to answer questions, but was stupid, and had to be roused. At 5 o’clock on Sunday morning she could not havo recovered from tho effects of the veronal, and he did not think she was responsible for her actions. Veronal was a vary dangerous drug. It was used extensively, but it should never be used. He'had seen poisonous symptoms resulting from a 6-grain dose, and they lasted for three daysTho maximum dose was 10 grains, and those contained 7J grains. Death w r as duo to shock brought about by lysol following on veronal poisoning. Tho taking of the lysol would have been sufficient in itself, but its effect was doubtless accelerated by tho veronal previously taken. Charles Palliser, chemist, said he had seen Hie bottle marked “veronal” which said that a tabloid contained .5 drachms. This was equal to 7.71 grains —a heavy dose. Tho coroner: If a person took four tabloids what would bo the result? Witness: It would bring about serious results. Ho did not know that the veronal tabloids oould be procured in the city except under a doctor’s orders. John Beveridge, licensee of the Grand Hotel, said deceased was employed by him as a bookkeeper for over three years, and sho had always been in fairly good health, except that she suffered from insomnia. She told him that she was taking drugs to induce sleep, and when she returned from Sydney two months and a half ago said sho was taking veronal. On Wednesday sho complained of feeling unwell, and he sent her off duty. She went to her room, and next day she was unable to resume duty. On the following day witness called her married sister and Dr Ewart, and the former remained with her until sho died on Sunday. On Sunday morning at about 6.20 he was called, and found her in a state of collapse. He gave her an emetic and called tho doctor. It was thought she had taken carbolic, but afterwards a bottlo was found which contained lysol. He understood she was a single woman, but he found a marriage certificate showing that she was married in January, 1909, to Leslie Frank Green.

Muriel Dyke said that the deceased, her sister, was thirty-four years of age. On Friday she was summoned to see her sister. She stayed with her till Saturday night, and returned about 1.45 a.m. on Sunday. Deceased constantly asked her to go out of the room, as she would then go to sleep. Sho went out, and watched her through a window from another room. Deceased got out of bed, but witness did not see what she was doing. The light was turned off in the room when witness. returned, and she heard deceased give a cough. She turned on the light, and found deceased lying on tho bed with a glass beside her. "Witness thought the glass had contained carbolic. Witness then sent for assistance. Her sister had newer told her she was married, and it never struck witness sho was worrying about anything. Deceased while ill was treated with every consideration in the hotel. Tho coroner returned a verdict that death was due to shock brought about by taking lysol following on veronal poisoning while deceased was probably of unsound mind due to mental worry.