ARSENIC IN THE SAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 109, 28 October 1911, Page 5

ARSENIC IN THE SAND.

DEATH OF A CHILD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wangauui, Last Night. Unusual circumstances surrounded the death of the four-year-old daughter of W. H. Wilson, carrier. The child died very suddenly on September 27, and the inquest was adjourned in order to analyse the stomach contents. The inquest was Resumed to-day, and the report of the Government Analyst showed that there were grains of sand and traces of arsenic still remaining in the stomach. The police enquiries had failed elicit any information as to how •child came by the poison; It seems the child and a playmate were making mud pics, and it i# surmised that the deceased must have'eaten sand and arsenic simultaneously. Dogs had been poisoned in the neighborhood some time before, and the owner of the place where the child was taken ill had three years ago destroyed "Rough on Rats" by burning it in a fire and throwing the ashes over the yard. One theory is that poisoned dogs may have vomited on the place where the children were playing. The Analyst stated that arsenic was only slightly soluble, and in the case of "Rough on Rats" it was possible that some would remain on the 'surface of the ground for three refers, if it had escaped the fire by falling through the grating. A verdict of accidental death by arsenical poisoning was returned. The Coroner stated • that the case showed how careful people should be in regard to such an indestructible poison as arsenic.