}
POISON LABELS ON
BOTTLES
JURY RECOMMENDS THAT
י
LARGE TYPE BE USED
Tragic Death of Chinese
Recalled
"We agree on the fact the deceased me his death by mis- adventure, the cause being a dose of Belladonna, self-adminis sered and taken' Intentionally by mistake." Behind this verdiet, which was returned by a jury at Central Magistracy yesterday, lles a tragic story of an iterate Chinese: who, being unable to read, took some polson" which he believed to be medicine pre- scribed to him by a University doctor attached to the Govern- ment Civil Hospital"
The unfortunate man in question was Tam Kam Chuen, aged 29, and the circumstances surrounding his tragic death were en- / "quired into by Mr. Q. A. A. Macfadyen ́assisted by a fury com- prised of Messrs.. V. G. Kerley (foreman), S., E. Edgar and A. E. S. Alves.
Took Poison By Mistake
་་
to the deceased, he told him that it was not to be taken by mouth. He also pointed out the label to him. Deceased nodded his head ahd left.
Dr. G. H. Thomas, of the Gov. ernment Civil Hospital said that on the evening of July 7 at about 7.30 pm, he saw the deceased in the receiving room of the hospital. He was then being treated by the house officer, Dr. F. Y. Khoo. The deceased had all the symptoms of poisoning by Belladonna. He treated him by all recognised met-
was a. Chinese character hods but he died at 1230 bmwhich meant "rub." and this he the following day.
changed to one which meant "put on."
Subsequently, he held a post- mortem examination and found. that there were no external in- Juries of violence and internal
that the
organs were practically formal. Judging by the symptoms during le, he "attributed death to Belladonna poisoning.
to the Coroner, Dr. In reply Thomas said that he personally very rarely prescribed Belladonna liniment because of its extremely polsonous nature.
In answer to the jury, witness said that when the deceased came, to him with the prescription, he
did not speak to him.
On the label
"Staggered In"
Wong Chak Sing, the ward master of the hospital, testised that at
about 7.30 p.m. that day, deseased staggered into his room and sald that he had been attended to by a
a bottle of medicine
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1934.
APPEAL FOR FUNDS
"Robert Morrison" CentenaryTM
An appeal for funds for rebuild ing the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitais.
HONG KONG AS A WINTER RESORT
A Meeting Place For High Officials
Readers of our Hongkong Week In connection with the Robert hy Press will notice that an at- Marrison Centenary Commemora-
tempt is being made to encourage tions this appeal to supplement the people in Europe and America to New Building Fund of the Alice
come and spend the winter at this Memorial and Nethersole Hospitalsport. Rarely does any place com- is launched in the hope it will meet with your sympathetic ap- proval and generous support.
Robert Morrison, the first Pro testant Missionary in China, was also the first to establish a dis- pensary to succour the sick and alling. This dispensary was the forerunner of Hospitals in China, and it seems appropriate that one of the features of the Centenary Commemoration should be to assist in the rebuilding of the New Hos- pitals, and thereby identify a part of the building as a "Morrison Memorial" "
The Alice Memorial and Nether sole. Hospitals and the work they do are well known to the residents of Engkong. Both directly and in- these Institutions have directly
bine so many favourable factors for the purpose as does Hongkong. At one time the very name of Hongkong made those in Europe think of disease and death. Now the winter climate of Hengtong leaves ittle to be desired, and the place is extremely healthy. Add to this the really beautiful situation and scenery to be obtained, and no-one can deny that both clima- tically and geographically Hong- kong is ideally suited as "a winter resort. ..
No attempt has ever been made before to institute a British season for residents out here. In the Far East why should not Hongkong be come a meeting place for all the high officials, whom England sends to China and Japan. With first well served the European Bom. class hotels on the spot, and every- munities, inasmuch as employees improvenient that modern science and servants and their dependents can make introduced, it would only have in their many thousands re- need a little effort on the part of ceived free treatment in them. the part of high officials to give The fact that the upkeep has been the place a season Army, Navy. sub- Foreign Office and Colonial Office well supported "by annual scriptions, encourages the hope could meet nere and jostle each this special appeal for rebuilding "other at the races. purposes will receive your generous consideration.
Subscriptions can be sent to Mr. J. B. Ross. C/o. The Mercantile Bank of India Ltd., Hongkong. when they will be gratefully ac knowledged.
and given University doctor that afternoon from which he had taken a spoon- ful. Deccased then showed him a bottle which was blue in colour... and marked "poison." Almost im-
Dr. Khoo who was attending an- other patient nearby came to his
In the case of an iterate per-mediately after he collapsed, and son, provided that was known; it could be arranged for the patient "to be treated in the clinic and not "be allowed to take the medicine
home.
Coroner: Do you think that the Chinese characters on the label could be made more prominent, that is the word "Tuk Yeat" (poison)?
Dr. Thomas: 1 don't think so.. I admit it is readable, but it does not necessarily strike the eye, large letters would be more strik- ing? That is, if he could read.
If he saw them there, he would be more likely to enquire about them?--I agree.
Dr. Thomas added that this was only what he personally thought and he was not criticislag any colleague at all. A qualified doctor could do what he thought best.
The jury suggested that the label should have large red letters.
A Pain In The Back Dr. F. Y. Khoo, University house surgeon attached to the Govern- ment. Civil Hospital, deposed of having treated the deceased at 4.30 pm on the day in question. Deceased complained to him, of some pain in the back, and be diagnosed that as lumbago. He prescribed some giyderine Balla- donna and told deceased in Chin-
assistance.
A friend of the deceased who had known him for about ten years.
Hongkong being the only British place suitable for the purpose and being so centrally situated, deserves a better fate than what has be fallen her; of complete neglect.
It might seem that the port, is rather far away from England to attract people, and that the ex- pense would be too great. In these days of depression, the shipping
|
could travel out spending no more on board than they do at home, there is
marly no reizia why should not do 80.
"Suburbia" To "Resort" Once the problem of the voyage bas been overcome, the question of living out here is not very com- plicated.. Apart from excellent reasonable botels, giving very monthly rates, there are a quan- tity of first class fats, and the pro- blems of servants and food are easily solved. Hongkong with its organised Dairy Farm and other attles can give people just "as good as they get anywhere in the world.
Once out here there would be na lack of entertainment." If one should compare this port to Malts, the latter is a desert. The town presents no interest, and there are zo good Hotels Yet Malta bas its season... Here in Hongkong it is possible to indulge in every kind of sport; and last but not least are the races. Perhaps those who come out bere are too prone to drift bito
state of mind, where they take. everything for granted. "Hongkong has never been fashionable, and it never will." they say. Such an attitude is doing the greatest harm to the colony, which as matters are at present is a sheer waste of a wonderful place. The advantages to be obtained by those who live in Hongkong. if we were to become. a winter resort are obvious, and need no stressing.
We hope therefore that all those who would like to see their town. take a leap forward from "gubur- bla" to "resort" will "do what lies In their power to make the place
FRENCH CONSUL companies would probably be glad known to those at had into se toh
LEAVING
Appointed. To Milan
Wong Cham a barber, then gave evidence. He said that the de-M. G. Daufaure de la Prade, Con- The numerous friends of Mons.
ceased who was a cook, had been sul General for France in Hong unemployed since last March, and Kong, will regret to bear that he had been staying with him. He
is to leave the Colony on being was not depressed and was quite appointed Consulate General in
Milan
normal.
On the day in question deceased returned to the shop at about 4 p.m. and had a bath: After this, witness asked him where he had been. He replied that he had been to consult a doctor" as he had a pain in the back. Witness asked him what kind of medicine did he get, and deceased took up a bottle on which was a label with some Chinese characters to the effect that the medicine was to be "put on" and not to be taken by mouth. He told deceased about this, but deceased argued that the medicine was drinkable.
"He did not believe me," said witness," and put on his coat and said that he would go to the hospt- tal and enquire if the medicine was to be "put on" or to be taken by mouth. Before he left he asked me to reserve his meal. I had my meal, and seeing that deceased
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A telegram to this effect was received by the Hong Kong Con- sulate from the French Legation at Peking yesterday morning. The date of Moris de la Prade's de- parture is not yet known.
During his period of office in the Colony. Mons. de la Prade has made a host of friends among all sections of the community and his departure from the Colony will be very much regretted.
SCOTTISH AIR COMPANY
Proposal. Before
ese to rub it on his back. He had not yet returned. I went with Edinburgh Committee
(Special. Air Mall Service)
Edinburgh, July 19. A proposal in connection with of Edinburgh as development an airport is coming before the Lord Provost's Committee of Edin- burgh Town Council to-day.
another foki to look for him at the seemed to understand it clearly.
We He saw deceased again in the Government. Civil Hospital.
could not enter the hospital be- receiving room at 7.30 pm the same day. Deceased was then in cause all the gates were closed, so we returned to the shop. Home- a collapsed condition and he could
.8 p.m..two or three not answer any questions. He time after came by himself. Witness gave Europeans and a Chinese came to deceased an injection of morphine our shop and told us that deceased That, how had taken some medicine by mis- to induce vomiting.
they had left. I ever, had no effect and deceased take. After then became sem-conscious. Be again went to the hospital but It is that a private limited com- was taken to the ward and given again failed to gain admittance.pany should be floated with a no- minal capital of £30,000 and called all recognised treatment, but died I then returned to the shop, and at about 12.30 pm, the following
day.
A dispenser employed by the hospital, Au Kwok Lam, told the Court that on the day in question, deceased came to him with a pre- scription and a blue bottle As the bottle was blue in colour witness pasted on it a label marked "poison." If the bottle was of other colour, and the medicine was not poisonous, he would not paste the label on. He himself poured the medicine into the bottle.
Coroner: Apart from the colour of the bottle, do you know the medicine is poisonous or not?
Witness: Yes. If the medicine La not poisonous it could not be contained in a blus bottle. If a person brought a white bottle for poison, I would change the bottle int a blue, oneet pepe
Witness then went onto Bay "that when he handed the medicine
later a Chinese detective came and asked me to go to the hospital I saw deceased on two occasions in the hospital before he died"
Continuing, witness said that de- ceased had told him that he had not been to school and whenever he wanted to write anything he always asked him to do it."
The Verdict
Without retiring, the jury re- turned the following verdict "We agree on the fact that, deceased met his death by misadventure. the cause being a dose of Bella donna, self-administered and taken intentionally by mistake. · We sug- gest that the poison labels on the bottles be improved by using a large red character or letter to mark the word ploson on it, and that fuller, instructions should be given by the dispensers when they hand out medicines in the case of polson,”
"the Scottish National Airways, Ltd"
Provided certain guarantees are forthcoming from the Corporation regarding possible oppsition, the company is prepared to establish and conduct a fully equipped aero- drome.
The site which they have in mind is on the main road between Gil merton and Dalkeith, a short dis- tance from the city, and has been approved by Air Ministry experts, The company would commence with a service between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
The scheme is a wholly Scottish effort, and the proposals Include the establishment of almost every branch of air and ground service that can be undertaken by a civil aerodrome company. The com- pany considers that maximum fare of 3d a mile could be charged for single journeys, :*
to consider any scheme that help-cursions to Macao and into South ed to maintain their vessel rather China are both interesting and in-
structive. them. If a person than to lay
EUROPEAN BOY BITTEN
Two More Cases Reported
Although there have been no recent cases of deaths from rabies, reports on people having been bit- ten by dogs still continue to come in and the latest concerns the young son of Mr. Shuster, of No. 58 Canton Road, who was bitten by a dog belonging to his father. on Wednesday afternoon. The dog was sent to Mataikok for observo- tion, while the boy was treated by Dr. Nelson Jones of the Peninsula Hotel
A SHAKESPEARE “FIRST FOLIO”
To Remain In England
(Special Air Mati Service)
London, July 19. The newly discovered "First Follo" of Shakespeare is to be given a chance to remain in Eng- land. Mr. Gabriel Wells, the New York bookseller who has bought ic, tells me that he will not return to America until October and the Folia will not leave this country before he does, if at all. He said to-day that he would "prefer to sell is to an English collector, and that he had arranged to interview one on the subject to-morrow.
"Another case in which Au Yeung, a Chinese female, was the victim Was also reported Од
The various manuscript emen- Wednesday. While strolling in dations and stage directions which Lockhart Road, she was bitten by give the Follo Its special im- a dog belonging to a neighbour.portance have been submitted to She was admitted to the Govern- Mr. H. Idris Bell and Dr, Flower, ment Civil Hospital for treatment, while the dog was sent to Kennedy Town for observation.
SPECIAL LICENCE
Johore Planter Married At Kuala Lumpur
(Special Air-mail Service)
C Singapore, July 24. A wedding by special licence took place on Friday in St. Mary's Church, Kuala Lumpur, the bride- groom being "Tommy" Crosa, of the F.M.S. Rubber Plantations, Ltd.,
Niyor, Johore, and the bride, Mary Ashmore, daughter of Henry Ashmore, the well-known Coventry resident.
5
The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. G. Hall,
The bridegroom's home is in Coventry also, his father betog T. Cooper Cross of that city.
The bouquets provided a pretty colour scheme of mauve and white, carried out in Japanese gardenias and Vanda Joachim orchids...
or the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum. The handwriting is stock one and cannot be attributed to any known commentator, but Mr. Bell' and Dr. Flower are agreed, I under. stand, that the annotations were made in the reign of Charles I.. and probably not many years after the publication of the Follo in 1823: Shakespeare bad then been dead only seven years, and 1 la quite possible that the un known annotator had seen many of the plays performed in Shakes- peare's lifetime. „
*
In these days, when a recent book of revelations, has made people suspicious of first editions, it is reassuring to know that the new discovery was made in a library to which nothing had been added since 1700. It remained so securely hidden that the late Bir. Sidney Lee had no word of it in his list catalogue."
man. The reception was held at the Hotel Majestic, where the health of the bride and bridegroom was proposed by Mr. Newsome. Mr. This. bride, who was given away Anderson Wilkem followed by pro- by Mr. N. F Newsome, looked posing the health of the matron particularly charming in a Bower-of honour, the Rev. J. G. Hall re- ed crepe de chine dress and one of piving. the latest style large hats. She was attended by Mra Newsome as After luncheon Mr. and Mrs. matron of honour, wearing a dress 1. Cross left by car for Freser's Hill of blue flowered crepe de chine for their honeymoon. Mrs Cross went away fn a simple but perfect- with a cream leghorn hat.
Mr. W. Anderson Wkem, of Merily cut white zult her hat being a. Emau Estate, Malacca, was best smart blue tegal,
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CHINESE POLITICS
are absorbing; as pregnant. to a Chinese as those of Westminster to a Lyons Corner House luncher.
Chinese Sports claims. its devotees by the hundred of thousands.
Local News in a matter of vital personal interest to all newspaper rendern.
So, out of the 800,000 inhabitants of Hong Kong, 18,000 actually subscribe to the paper with the most authoritative political articles, the best sporting writers and the fullest reports of local affairs in the Colony, in Bouth Chins-a high proportion whers only 14% over 18 years of age are literate.
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