AN OLD-FASHIONED TOWN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 November 1924, Page 7

AN OLD-FASHIONED TOWN.

ANTI-VACCINATIONISTS AP- \ PLAUDED.

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT ■ LONDON, Nov. 13. JJi. Haclwen, the anti-vaccinationist, received a tribute at, a /crowded meetiug at Gloucester, where he was presented with a cheque for £224 towards' the. cost of his defence. He said his enemies had done more .than frrty years of propaganda could have -acccopplished. Medical men now. knew that they could please themselves whether they would accept a fetish or exercise liberty. / (Dr. W. R. Hadwen, the well-known anti-vaccmaticnist and anti-vivisection-lst, was committed for trial last month by the Gloucester coroner on. a charge of manslaughter. He had attended a child, who died from diphtheria, and the mother’s complaint that the child had not been properly treated led to an inquest. It was alleged !by witnesses that Mrs A. M. Burnham, of Yauxhall Road, Gloucester, tailed Dr. Hadwen in to her little girl, who had a bad throat, on August 1. He ordered a gargle of warm water and vinegar, and also gave the child some medicine. Three days later he looked down her throat and advised that it be painted with pure glycerine. On August 9, .after again looking at her throat, feeling her pulse and examining her chest, Dr. Hadwen said, according to. Mrs Biiypham, that there was scarcely anything the matter with the child, and that she would soon be all right. Later the same day the mother called an Dr. E. S. Ellis, who said the child was suffering from diphtheria and pneumonia, and there was little hope of her living. She died the following day Dir. Ellis stated that lie did not tnink it pcssible thot the <idv<mced growth of diphtheric memhrane' could have been seen on the morning of August 9. The treatment advised was of but slight value, anct he thought accurate diagnosis and proper treatment would have saved the child’s life. Dr. wash bourne stated that from the symptoms any medical man should have been at least highly suspicious that the case was olie of diphtheria.. Dr. Haclwen stated that he treated- the child for a cold, with a suspicion of pneumonia. There was no clinical symotom of diphtheria from start to finish. He did nc.t take a swab from the child’s throat. He considered the whole modem germ theory to be all bosh).