TREATMENT OF THE DEAD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1652, 20 January 1913, Page 6

TREATMENT OF THE DEAD.

DOCTOR WITH 1 CORONER.

A matter of eooio' public interest waa raised in a passage .between the, Coronor and a medical witness at' an' inquest on Saturday. ' Tho point' of difference between tho parties, was Whether' it wns ' a, proper thing. to remove tho body of.Mr. George Paradise from his lato home .in Brougham Avenue, where he had died suddenly, to tho morgue, for the postmortem examination. Mr. Paradi6e died on Friday, and tho inquest was opened by Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., on . Saturday

morning. '• . ... , .' ■ 'Dr. Gilmer gave evidence to the effect that ho had oonducted n post-mOrtem, and had'.found that Mr. Pariidiso had died through natural! causes. ■ '. i- ■ '' ' : • M'he next witness was Dr.. Elliott, whoi had'been called ,to sco Mr. Paradise'on ,> ; Friday morniug, . ; . '. ' > ' Dr. Elliott said! Yestorday. (Friday), at about 5.30; a.m., I was s callod to attend Mr, Goorgo Paradiso dt'.'lS Brougham, Avenue.; I. found him lying'in his bed. . Life was extinct, biit tho body was warm. Apparently'ho died shortly beforo my tirrival. I' then, oommunifcatcd with tho Coroner, dating that I was unablo to certify as to tho cause of death, and asked to bo allowed to' mako 'a post-mortem examination-; —. :b Dr. M'Arthur: Now, I don't want any remarks about my conduct; ' ■ Dr. Elliotts I think I am here to giv#' evidence with rogard to tho death, Dr. M'Arthuri That is not with regard to tho death. ' .'■■■■ : Dr. Elliott: I think a medical man should havo somo soy as to/what should be done— • • '■ . ■ Dr. M'Arthur: That is all right. Yon ■ know what to do; you hare tho Justica Department. /' . . Dr. Elliott: I objected. to' the . body! being taken' to tho morguo. ' . ' ; Dr. M'Arthur: Yes, you did object. You have no right to. You know tho practioe bore. , . <■ Dr. Elliott: I was 1 not particularly anxious to make tho post-mortem,' ■ ' - Dr. Elliott eaid something in which tho only audible words were I "Instead of being put: into ft cart." I "Put into a whatP" - queried Dr« ; M'Arthur; ; ■ ■■ Dr. Elliott: Ho was put into an oxpresa and carted to the morgue. Dr. M'Arthur: Well, you know very 1 well that the relatives could have called another vehicle.

Sergeant Murphy, who represented the police at the iiiqucst, askoa •& question, whoroupon Dr. Elliott remarked: "I am not blaming you, sergeant; I think you acted with great discretion." s . .• - Dr. M'Artliur: Well, who was'it that ras indiscreet, thcnP, •• Dr. Elliott: I think.that where a man dies suddenly in a good houso there is no need to take him to tho morgue. Dr., M'Arthur: Oil.'well,' if you bolpnfr to the Mcdioal Association you know what to do. > , Dr, Elliott! Tho Mcdical Association has nothing to do with' the morgue. ' Dr. M'Arthur: Oh, Well, I don't want to discuss it! .. - '

Dr, Elliott: I'don't want to discuss it, your Worship. I thought it ray duty to mention it. . - .. *