CORONER’S INQUEST.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2452, 24 December 1870, Page 2

CORONER’S INQUEST.

Mr W. D. Murison, J.P., acting coroner, held an enquiry at the Edinburgh Hotel, Cavcrsham, yesterday, touching the death of one Margamt Cochran. Mr M’Kcay, solicitor, watched the proceedings on behalf of Mrs Waterhouse. The following evidence was given :

Edward W. Cochran, a commission agent, residing at Caversham, said that the deceased, who was his wife, was taken ill on the 14th inst., and thinking her to be near her confinement he sent for Mrs Waterhouse, midwife, between live and six; o’clock that evening. Mrs Waterhouse came about seven o’clock, and an hour after her arrival he asked her how bis wife was getting on. She said that she was doing well, and that in about an hour or two everything would be all right. About one or two o'clock the following morning he asked .Mrs Waterhouse if she required any assistance, and she replied “No;” that everything was progressing favorably, and that every hour she expected the child would he born. About six hours afterwards ho spoke to Mrs Waterhouse, and asked her to get a doctor whom she knew. She said the doctors were all the same to her, ard that she did not think that a doctor was required. About ten o’clock on the evenhig of the Kith Mrs Waterhouse lay down to have an hour’s sUep ; and after she had been asleep about an hour, he called Mrs Waterhouse, and told her that his wife was uneasy, and asked her to go and see her. She did so, and stopped with her until about half-past one on the following morning, when she was delivered of a male child, still-hom. Mrs Waterhouse called his attention to certain appearances of disease in the child. She left; on the forenoon of the 16th, but visited witness’s wife each day before her death, and sometimes twice a day. Mrs Simpson, a neighbor, came to attend his wife about nine o’clock on the evening of the 19th, and remained, with her until her death. On the afternoon of Monday, Mrs Waterhouse applied hot oatmeal in bags to the decease i’s stomach ; and this treatment was continued by her instructions until about three o’c’ock the following morning. About five o’clock he sent a note to Mrs Waterhouse that his wife had not improved any, ami that she was rather feverish, and he sent his son for Mr Hocken. The doctor came out immediately, and the remedies which he ordered were administered. The doctor said that Airs Waterhouse was not to interfere in the case any longer ; and witness replied, “Certainly not ” Next day his wife appeared to be drowsy, and he thought she was getting better. Mr Waterhouse called in the afternoon and saw her, and said she did not like her appearance. She said, “Ur ifocken ought to have been here. Your wife appears to be sinking.” He offered to go for the doctor, and she told him that he ought to do so. In the evening he seat a note to Mr Hocken, telling him that his instructions had been attended to, and on Wcdnei-day lie went to him and told him that his wife was sinking. The doctor said ho could not come, that witness should have sent him word in the morning early', and that he had sent a message to that effect by witness’s sou. ilia wj.fr; remained in a low condition until about four o’clock on tlje afternoon of the 22nd, when she dhd. Mrs Waterhouse did not interfere to witness's knowledge a Ter Mr Hocken instructed th..t she should not. Mary M'Nair deposed to having seen the deceased shortly after her conliiiement, and to having been struck hy her'then somewhat unusual appearance. ’.She asked Mrs Waterhouse several' times if typs Cochran was all right, and she replied that .Mrs Cochran was “ as right as a clock. ”

Elizabeth Simpson gave unimportant evidence.

_ Ellon Waterhouse, after being duly cautioned, said : On the evening of the 14th inot. I was sent for to attend upon the deceased. I wont to her house, and found that she was near her confinement. She was very sick, and I gave her castor-oil. She complained of cramp in the legs, and I had her feet bathed in hot water. I remained with her until the pains of labor came on, which took place on the evening of the 15th. She was in labor pains about two hours, and at about a quarter to one on the morning of Friday she wa? delivered of a male child, still-horn. The child was presented in it’ natural form, and was very much decomposed. I left Mrs Cochrane seven or eight hours after she had been delivered ; when I left her she appeared to be progressing favorably. On Saturday I visited her, and she then appeared to be getting on well. On Monday I again visited her; I prescribed castor-oil to relieve her, and applied hotwater poultices to her stomach. On Tuesday morning, about six o’clock, Mr Cochrane’s son brought me a note from his father, requesting me to visit his wife. I told the boy, who asked me where Mr Hocken lived, that he should endeavor to take the doctor back with him. t visited Mrs Cochrane that day after Mr Hocken had been to see her and had prescribed for her. On the 21st I went to see deceased ; when I saw her I told Mr Cochrane that he should go for Mr Hockon. I remained with her a few hours that day, and while I was with her she appeared to be improving. I have been a midwife for twenty years. I attended Mrs Cochrane at the birth of a former child, and on that or c ision she was vry irritable. Before sen ling for the doctor I had no reason to apprehend any danger. Mr Hocken stated, on the occasion of his first visit to the deceased, he found her very ill in bed ; he learned from her that she had had a very difficult labor of about 48 hours duration. She was very feverish, her pulse being IK) She complained of acute pain in the abdomen, which was much swollen. On his second visit he found her dying. After describing the results of the post modem examination, he made in conjunction with Dr Alexander, the witness said:— “ Death was no doubt produced by the extensive sloughing and inflammation of the vagina and urctha, and the hole communicating with the cavity of the peritoneum. I have no doubt this sloughing was caused by the long continual pressure of the child in the birth. The deceased stated to me in the presence of Mrs Simpson, she had been two days in labor. I have no doubt that the inflammation was caused by improperly protracted labo. lam of opinion that labor should have been ended by skilled assistance. I a of opinion if proper professional assistance had been obtained at an ecarly stage, deceased’s life would have been saved. Dr Alexander corroborated the last witnesses testimony. The jury returne.l the following verdict“ Died from natural causes The jury also state that much blame attaches to the midwife for not calling in a medical attendant at an earlier date.’’