INQUEST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 698, 3 September 1875, Page 3

INQUEST.

—-o—----(Before Dr Corse, Coroner.) An inquest was held on Thursday, the 2nd* instant, at -Kidd’s Cromwell Hotel, upon the rbmnins of Samuel ThotSas, who had died ih the Groinwcll Hospital on tho Monday previous. Mr Starkey sjv»s elected foreman. The first witness sworn was W. Madden , who diiposed - T have known the deceased about.2l years, and, have.worked with him time. ( Lqst .Sunday, the 29ch ult., I went with him to the Cromwell Hospital, at about five minutes to one in forenoon. On arrival at the Hospital I saw tho wardsman, 1 requested hiai.tn admit the deceased to tho Hospital. He refused, and stated that he had been reprimanded by the Resident Surgeon (for admitting a-patient on the week previous, and that he had received positive instructions not to admit any patient without his being first seen by the doctor. I complained, and urged that it was a very hard thing that a man after coming 15 miles, and who might die in the dray, should be kept in- tho cold and refused admittance. One of my mates proceeded to town to see the doctor. I remained about a quarter of an hour and then took deceased' into tho Hospital. The deceased wanted to be removed from the trap. Dr Stirling arrived at the Hospital about two o’clock. I never saw the deceased thereafter till this mwii'iig. By the Jury—The deceased has been a Good Templar since Christmas, but he never was a hard drinker. I took the deceased into the Hospital on my own res. ponsibility. The Warder said he would willingly admit him, but ha had received definite orders from the Surgeon to the contrary. 1 said ] would take ‘‘.Trench .leave "■ The Warder did not obstruct me. After .admission into the Hospital, the deceased took a seat at the fire, and conversed with (he patients. By the Coroner—The deceased has had no difficulty in breathing? We have been in powdersmoke, and climbed ladders together, and if he had any shortness of breath I should have known it. Dr Allan—ls it customary Mr Coroner, pr a rule of the Institution that a patient cannot'be admitted' without being, first pasSed'by the Snrgcon. The Coroner—l do not know ; this is the first time T have learnt of it. Dr Allan then explained that a different system Clyde. William Henry Whetter sworn—l saw the deceased last,alive on Sunday afternoon at about three o’clock at the Hospital. He was then in a ward with, other ■patients. I had a conversation with him. Tim deceased informed me that he felt very unwell, with Vpain in the right side.. Ho said he had felt indisposed for a week. The deceased made no complaint to me about tie Hospital as he had not been treated, n ir did he complain to me about being df - tained outside. ;> William Thompson sworn—l am Wardsman to the Cromwell Hospital Deceased was a patient in the Hospital, and was admitted at a quarter past one on the 29th ultimo. He arrived in a spring-cart, and was acompauied by two other men. On arrival, 1 refused to admit him, and said that as they had a spring-cart, they could drive to Cromwell The Doctor instructed me that if-any persons came to the Hospital with a ticket, and were able to walk, that they must he first seen by him. By the Foreman—l told tho parties who came with the deceased that I had been blamed for admitting a patient the week previous. The Doctor said 1 was in fault in admitting patients able to walk without being seen by him. Examination continued—lt takes me half an hour and five minutes to walk each way to Cromwell and back. The Doctor arrived about.an hour and a half after the admission of the deceased. He prescribed for him, and left instructions with mo as to his treatment. Those instructions were carried cut. Tde Doc or left the Hospital • on the Sunday night at about a quarter past five. As a rule the Doctor visits the Hospital once a day. About five minutes before the deceased died, he commenced to got bluish about his lips and face. About ten mimits before this I-gave him his medicine. The deceased never complained to me of his treatment, nor did he speak disrespectfully of the Surgeon. The deceased was seen by Dr Stirling at a. quarter past five on the Sunday- and and he expired at about five o’clock the next afternoon. On the Monday the Doctor arrived at the Hogpital at about half-past six—he informed me that he fully expected the death of the deceased, that,js, ho wasn't surprised. By the Coroner—From the time of admission till after the death of tho deceased cn the Monday, he was not seen by the Doctor, it was about two hours after the Doctor saw the patient before the medicine was administered. 1 had to come into Crora web for the medicine. .' • By the Foreman—Tho Doctor said that if a patient was able to walk, and had not met with an accident, 1 was.not to admit him unless he was first seen by him. In the ovont of the absence from town of the Doctor, I,should feel disposed to admit any patiept.., ■ -. • Dr Stirling here explained that there were two meanings to be attached to the word adroit. What his order to the-Wardsman .meant was that he should admit into the Hospital, but not to admit them finally as patients until they had been, examined by him. .:i o-i it. Bfi.vrs-mf.n.T 1 By , the Jury—l did not consider the patient at the point of death. I . By Dr, Stirling—lt wag about lialf-an-hour after your arrival at tho Hospital on the Monday that ytra said yon wore not sur. prised. Robert Wright Stirling sworn—l am a duly qualified surgeon, and Resident Surgeon to the Cromwell Hospital. I identify : the body now on view as that of Samuel Thomas. He was admitted to the Hospital. I first saw tho patient at about two o’clock on tho Sunday. I was there from two to five, and 1 saw him about four

times. I did not visit the Hospital until next day, which was after six in tho evening. The deceased was then dead. 1 went' out to tho Hospital immediately [ was "informed of the death. At the time I loft tho Hospital on tho Sunday night, I did not expect the sudden dismise, ns there were no visible symptoms to lead mo,to conclusion. I had been indisposed for a week. If L had been in my usual health 1 would have visited the Hospital sooner on the Monday, but 'the treatment Wahid havd been tho same. I made a post mortem examination to satisfy myself. This was after I had received intimation from the Hospital Committee to the effect, that on inquest was unnecessary, , The Doctor here gave an account of tho post mortem—l found conditions in the heart that could not bo removed 1 by any human treatment. The cause of death was weakness of the heart, accelerated by tho other symptoms 1 have described- About eighteen months ago I examined i the deceased, and passed him' fur tho Oddfellows’ Lodge He could not then he said to be unhealthy. C. J. Allan sworn—l am a duly qualified medical pra"titioner and surgeon to the Dunstan Hospital. I made a post mortem examination on the body now on view. Therc'were no external marks of violence. The immediate cause of deatn was disease of the heart, combined with general fatty degeneration. In my opinion he was liable to drop down dead at any moment. No treatment could have done him much good. This closed the evidence, when the Coroner summed up, remarking that there were one or two things calling for their serious attention, especially that of the management of the Hospital. It was expecting too much to imagine that a sick patient should be koptlbutsideuiitiljthe doctor arrived. He thought that this case clearly demanded an investigation, and he would not detain the Jury at any length but leave the matter to their discretion. ■ '■ ‘ The Jury then retired, 1 and were engaged for three quarters of an hour when the following verdict was returned .We find deceased, Samuel Thomas, died from natural causes, -at the Cromwell District Hospital, on Monday, August .ID, 1875, and we are further of opinion that no blame whatever is attached te the surgeon, Dr R. W. Stirling.