CURIOUS CASE OF POISONING.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 17, 9 June 1875, Page 3

CURIOUS CASE OF POISONING.

A most peculiar case of poisoning occurred in Wellington a few days ago, which, although fortunately unattended with fatal results, presented at one time a serious and even dangerous aspect. On the 18th May, Mr Von Mirbach was called in to see a young gentleman, employed in the Post-office, named Nicholls, who had been ill some two or three days. The doctor found his patient very feverish and delirious, yet without any symptons of ordinary fever. He prescribed for him, and on visiting next day found him worse, the delirium having become more marked and violent. Dr Mirbach then came to the conclusion that Mr Nicholls had been poisoned, but on inquiry could not discover that any article of food likely to cause poisoning had been partaken of by the patient. The second visit took place in the bedroom, and there the medical gentleman quickly discovered the cause of the illness. He noticed that the room was papered with a coarse-grained green paper very commonly used. He immediately administered antidotes to counteract the effect of arsenical poison, and although they acted beneficially, Mr Nicholls was in a very dangerous condition for some time, owing to the quantity of poisonous matter that had been inhaled from the evaporation of the arsenical colouring of the paper, and the time that had elapsed before professional assistance had been sought. The lips and eyes were severely ulcerated, and the feverish symptons, with delirium, very strong. The doctor took a piece of the paper, which had been recently put on the wall, and, in presence of Mr Brittain, chemist, analysed it. It was found to contain a large quantity of arsenic, the crystals being seen quite distinctly in the tube used for the process. It was found that from a piece of paper about three times the size of a man’s hand sufficient arsenic was extracted to cause the death of an adult. We are pleased to say that under the excellent treatment of Dr Yon Mirbach Mr Nicholls is progressing favorably, although yet scarcely out of danger. It is" almost needless to state that the walls of the bedroom were immediately denuded of the obnoxious covering, and the place thoroughly cleansed. Strange to relate, two other gentlemen sleeping in the same apartment experienced no ill effects, but their beds were near the window, whilst that of the person poisoned was in a corner of the room where fresh air seldom reached. “ New Zealand Times.”