A Charge of Manslaughter.

Hastings Standard, Issue 395, 10 August 1897, Page 2

A Charge of Manslaughter.

IMPROPER TREATMENT FOR CANCER. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, This day. At the S.M. Court this morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, Thomas Ilullett, late grocer in Armagh street, Christchurch, was charged with the manslaughter of one Wm. McAlice, commercial traveller, about whose death an inquest was recently held before Mr Beetham, coroner. McAlice suffered from cancer in the neck and was treated for it in the Dunedin Hospital, where an operation was performed. A second operation was contemplated but was abandoned after an examination. Deceased came to Christchurch and lied. He did net consult a medical man but put himself under Hullett, who applied chromic acid to the part affected. The case for the prosecution is that the treatment hastened death and that it was a grossly improper treatment for such a disease. Medical evideuce was given by Drs. Bolger and Symes, both of whom considered the application of chromic acid was not proper treatment, and that death was hastened thereby consequent on the pain. Dr Symes said that death was very much accelerated by the treatment. Had not deceased been treated by caustics he would probably have lived three of four years longer, perhaps more. The prisoner was committed for trial, bail being accepted in £IOO and one surety of £IOO.