INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2388, 28 November 1881, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held this afternoon at the Hospital, before Dr. Coward, coroner, and a jury of whom Mr O. Deal was chosen foreman, touching the death of John Steele, who was found dead in the Hospital bath on the previous day. After viewing the body the following evidence was taken : James Dunn Wilson deposed—That he had known deceased for about eight years. He was a fitter by trade. Last saw him alive about a week or ten days ago, when he said he was very weak. During two years they bad lived in the same house. Had not seen him drunk more than twice. He was working at the railway, Lyttelton. Never knew him to have a fit. Mary O’Phelan deposed she was a nurse in the Hospital, Knew deceased whilst in the Hospital two or three days. Saw deceased in the bath-tub about six o’clock yesterday morning. The bath - tub was overflowing and leaking through the floor. He was floating on the top of the water, face upwards. He was fully dressed. Witness pulled his head above the water, and placed it on the edge of the bath, and then informed the house surgeon. He belonged to her ward, and was under her care. Those who are able to go out of the ward are allowed to do so at times, but not to get a bath. Saw him dressing at ten minutes to five o’clock. It was about six o’clock when he was found in the bath, but did not see him leave the ward. He was conscious during the time be was in the ward, and had not been irrational. There was nothing peculiar in bis manner. By the Foreman —The patients have a bath onoe a week, and have to ask for towels. At four in the morning she spoke to deceased, who afterwards left the ward during her absence. Dr A. J. F. Mickle deposed—Ho was house surgeon in the Hospital. Deceased was admitted on Friday last, ostensibly for disease of the bones of the toe. He also complained of pains in the pit of the stomach. He seemed perfectly quiet and rational, and was quite sober. His circulation was very feeble. Witness prescribed for him. Last saw him alive at half-past nine o’clock on Saturday night, when he stated he felt better of the pain he had previously complained of. He was exceptionally quiet, but at the time referred to he replied cheerfully he felt much better. Perhaps he was slightly melancholy. About five o’clock on the morning of Sunday witness was called by the nurse to the bath-room, and found the head and shoulders of deceased well out of the water, and over the side of the bath. He was quite dead. No evidence of any struggle was perceptible, nor yet any mark or bruise of any kind. Patients are not allowed to go to the bath-room when they choose, but it was always open, and they were only allowed to take baths when told to do so. The result of the post-mortem examination is, tho brain organs wore much distended with blood, with some scrum on the base of the brain. There was no appearance of any inflammation. The windpipe was also partially filled with serum, or fluid ; the right side of the heart was distended with blood and the large veins. The heart was enlarged and loaded with fat. The aortic valves were incompetent. The blood was not coagulated. The lungs, although healthy, were congested. There was a collection of serum in tho left pleural cavity, but no sign of inflammation of the pleura. About three ounces of thickish fluid was in the stomach—apparently halfdigested milk. Tho organ was quite healthy. Death resulted from drowning. By the Foreman—Ho was partially helpless, having lost a leg. He might have hold on to the side of the bath tub till he could be assisted, but he was dressed, and drowning was the cause of death. Had never seen any symptoms of his having fits. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from drowning, but that there was no evidence to show tho state of his mind at tho time, with a rider to tho effect that additional care should be taken of patients till their mental state was ascertained, and that the keys of the bathroom should not be easily accessible.