THE LATE IN QUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 2951, 3 August 1872, Page 4

THE LATE IN QUEST.

To the Editor. Sir— The inquiry into the cause of the death of the late Mrs Halliday must be anything hut satisfactory to the friends of the deceased or to the public; that the investigation has not been of that searching nature that the importance and nature of the case demanded, is undeniable, and of which I should think there can haidly be two opinions. All that is known is that death resulted from sloughing, but how that was caused can only be surmised. It may be asked, Did the disease uitder which this woman is said to have labored actually exist ? A ssuming that it did, was an operation advisable ? and was she in a position to undergo it? Were skill and care exercised in its performance, and was every precaution taken to prevent or allay any unfavorable symptoms that might, and in this case did, arise therefrom ? Did the practitioner, subsequent to its performance, do all that could : reasonably be expected of him under the circumstances of the case ? Was it prudent, unaided and unadvised by any other member of the profession, to enter upon it, however desiroqs, notwith tanding that the deceased might have assented to such a course ? These and many other questions naturally present themselves to one’s mind in a case of this kind. Not for one moment that I would attempt to asmrt that all that professional skill, prudence, foresight, and humanity could do has not been exerised ; but the public, and the friends of the deceased in particular, have a right to fed and be fully satisfied that such was case. At present I am satisfied they do not. It is much to to be regretted that the surgeon and medical attendant did not vouchsafe an explanation at the proper time and place, which might and probably would have tended to remove any unfavorable impression. As it is, the case has assumed somewhat an ugly appearance, and the sooner it is removed the better for the honor of the noblest of the professions and of Dr Docking in particular, while the public interests demand it.—l remain, it c, C. J. 0. Dunedin, August L