ALLEGED UNSKILFUL TREATMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 7

ALLEGED UNSKILFUL TREATMENT.

A CHRISTOHURCH CASE. JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christohurch, May 27. At' the Magistrate's Court to-day Eliza Ann Judd, wife of Chas. Judd, gardener, claimed £114 Lis. from 'Andrew M'Cartney Loasby, a prescribing chemist in Christohurch, for alleged unskilful treatment.

The statement of claim sot out that plaintiff, on March 11, consulted defendant for the purpose of being properly treated by him. Defendant, it was alleged, negligently, improperly, and unskilfully treated plaintiff for her complaint, ■ and in consequence she became afflicted with strangulated hernia, and was compelled to undergo an operation. She. incurred £14 14s. medical and hospital expenses, and claimed this, together with £100 general.damages.

Plaintiff, an elderly woman, stated n ovideuco that she went to consult lefendant on March 11 for the purpose if getting him to give her sorao medicine for her chest. Ho said she had a weak heart and liver complaint, and he said he would givo her something to ease the complaint. She told him she Was ruptured and he said that had a lot to do with it.- He tried her sides and said tho ruptures were an awful size. This, took place in his room upstairs. Ho made a pretence of examining :hor, gave her somo pills, and a medicine. She described her symptoms and ho prescribed for her. The medicine was to bo taken after meals, and a pill at bed-time. After taking the" pills she was seized with pains which were so bad that sho had to send for a doctor. After treatment tho pain was eased, but witness remained in bed three, days. On the advico of a doctor witness underwent an operation, at tho hospital where sho remained a month. Prior to consulting defendant witness had earned ss. a day in a laundry, brt was unable to do hard work now. The hospital charges came to.£7 45., and the medical expenses to £10 10s: Witness ascribed her ilhicss to the pills she took.

. Defendant stated that plaintiff, when she consulted him, complained of indigestion, and when asked if sho had any pain sho said that sho felt pain all over, especially in her chest, but said nothing of being ruptured. Ho roado no examination of plaintiff, and if ho had known sho was ruptured ho would have sent her to a doctor. Ho never hoard that tho pills ho prescribed had a deloterious effect on hernia. Sovoral medical men gave evidence of both sides as to tho probablo effect of tho pills. . The magistrate, in giving judgment for defendant, said tho cvidenco was contradictory, and he was inclined to beliovo the defendant's evidence. On tho question -whether strangulated hernia was caused by tho pills tho evidence was not conclusive. It might just as easily have been caused by plaintiff stepping off a tram. Ho did not think the defendant guilty of negligence and judgment would bo for him.