INQUEST AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1680, 9 July 1879, Page 4

INQUEST AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

An inquest was held at Sutherland's Hotel on Friday, 4th July, before JR. B. Willis, Esq., coroner, and a jury of whom. Mr Charles Bourn was chosen foreman, touching the death of Emily Brown, wife of Daniel Brown a laborer, who at the time of his wife's death was employed in the neighborhood of Waimate. The inquiry commenced at 3.30 p.m. and was not over until 11 p.m. Harriet Bright, a midwife, who had been engaged to attend deceased, deposed that she had been called in at 8 p.m. on July 3rd. The deceased shortly after her arrival went to bed, and the child was born about 1 a.m. on the 4th. She was not satisfied as to the state of the mother, who appeared very weak, and sent for Mr Davis, assistant to Dr. Chapman, who lived about 100 yards away. Mr Davis sent back word that ho was unable to attend. She afterwards sent two other messengers, but failed in getting him to attend. George Bright was then sent to Leeston to Dr. Chapman. Dr. Chapman sent back a draught which was given to deceased, who did not live more than thirty minutes after taking it, and died about 430 a.m. In answer to the foreman, witness said she could not tell whether tho patient might have been brought through with the assistance of a medical man. Mrs Boberts deposed that she had been present with the deceased during her confinement. She considered that death had resulted from weakness, owing to want of proper nourishment. Deceased had been in necessitous circumstances previous to her death. She corroborated the last witness's statement in reference to tho messages which had been sent for Mr Davis and Dr. Chapman, Edward Fulljames, George Dyce, and George Bright, the messengers who had called on Dr. Chapman, and Mr Davis gave evidence that Mr Davis had stated that he was to ill to leave his house, and Dr. Chapman was obliged to remain in readiness to attend another patient. Dr Chapman stated that he did not as a rule attend cases of that kind without being previously engaged. Dr. Chapman, a duly qualified medical practitioner, on oath, deposed that he jhad been called up by the witness Bright about 4 a.m. in tho morning to attend the deceased, who, he was informed, had been confined during the night as Mr Davis was too ill to get up. He sent up a draught with verbal directions as to use. He made a post mortem examina- j tion of the body, which was thin, but not emaciated. Tho heart showed signs of fatty degeneration. He referred at length to tho condition of tho deceased in reference to her confinement, and reviewed the ovidenco of tho midwife. The symptoms proved that at the commencement she was in a most critical state. Ho believed after t9n o'clock in the evening no medical assistance would havo availed. He had seen Mr Davis on Thursday evening, when ho (Mr Davis) had complained of indisposition. Mr Davis ought to have sent word to him that ho was unable to attend. Had ho any idea of the woman's critical state ho would havo hastened to Southbridgo at any inconvenionco. Tho cause of death was undoubtedly weaknoss, due primarily to the weak state of her heart, from insufficient food and nourishment and from the efforts used in childbirth. Mr Davis stated that, when called to attend the deceased by Dyce, Bright, and Fulljames, he was utterly prostrated with diarrhcei, vomiting, and rheumatism, and was totally incapacitated from any exertion. Ho was able and willing to produce witnesses to prove the state of his health. Tho Coroner commented on the evidence of the different witnesses. In his mind it was perfectly clear that the deceased died from weakness. He also referred to the system of patients engaging the attendance of a physician, which was carried on very extensively in England as well as in tho colonies. Tho jury then retired, and after fully an hour's deliberation returned the following verdict—" That Mrs Emily Brown died in childbirth from natural causes, accelerated by want of medical attendance," and added the following rider—" Tho jury regret that, though two medical men were applied to, their assistance was not obtainable."