SECOND EDITION. INQUEST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 76, 2 April 1902, Page 3

SECOND EDITION. INQUEST.

— + ■ An Inquost concerning tho death of Mr William Melville, who died at the Wairau Hospital on Monday, was commenced yesterday. . Deceased went into tho hospital about a month ago after meeting with an accident on the Jlenwick Boad, in which ho sustained severe injuries to the head as the result of a fall from a dray loaded with chaff. The enquiry was conducted by i >r. McArthur, S.M., and the jury sworn in were: Messrs 0. Patchett (foreman), B. Wanden, G. Mills, H. Silvius, H.Townsend, and J. Porter. After proceeding to the hospital yesterday afternoon and viewing the body the inquest was adjourned until this morning. i Sergt.-Major Mason appeared on be- j half of the police; Mr Conolly for Mr Parker, deceased's employer, and Mr ftogers for the relatives of deceased. Evidence was called as follows :— jDr. Anderson said he attended deceased at his house on the Ist March. Melville described the accident that had happened him some weeks previously. He said he had fallen off a cart, cut his head severely and injured his back, and although the wounds were healed he felt himself growing weaker day by day. He examined MelvUle, who was very ill, and complained' .of a tender spot over the lower «arfc of the" spinal column and a dazed feeling in tho head. He sent him to the hospital tli© same day he saw him. ■Next day he exsw>to«d him further at the hospital. He was in a bad state. He had chronic inflaau*ation of the membranes ■of the brain arid spinal cord. The other organs of the body were healthy with the exception of indications of chronic heart disease. He was put on treatment, chiefly rest, I

medicine, and special diet. At first I he seemed to improve, but his tern peratnre never abated to normal, and he gradually got worse. Deceased knew that he was dying, and for the last fortnight was very depressed at times. Death was due to the inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord resulting in heart failure. The inflammatioii was without doubt brought about by the fall from the cart. To Mr Conolly: His heart was not in such a state as to be the sole cause of death. Melville said he had fust of all gone to Mr Shaw for treatment, and I ator on had consulted Dr King. When deceased consulted witness he appeared to have had no treatment for inflammation, or he wonkl not have been walking about ut home with his temperature at 102', but the wounds in the head were perfectly healed, The- delnv in treatment had a prejudicial effect. Earlier treatment would have given him a bettor ehauee of recovery. Witness pitted that Dr Nairn saw the patient on several occasions, and concurred in the nature of the disease and the treatment ho was receiving, and that his condition was caused as the result of the accident. The disease would take at least a week to manifest itself. Dr King said that Melville consulted him about three weeks after the accident, and complained of his shoulder joint being hurt, saying he had fallen off a cart. He examined the shoulder carefully, and found he could make all the movements of the joint. His heart was weak and feeble in action, and irregular. He was very weak and emaciated. He believed the pain in the shoulder joint was of a temporary nature, and that he chiefly required treatment for general debility, and supplied him with medicine. A day or two afterwards Melville returned, requesting a certificate for an Accident Insurance Society. He told him the interval of three weeks was % too long to give an effective certificate. He did not again see deceased. To Mr Conolly: Melville did not complain of his back or his head. He did not take his temperature. He declined to give a certificate because he thought it would not be effective three weeks after the accident. He did not know if deceased took the medicine or followed his advice. To Mr Rogers: Melville connected his shoulder injury with the accident. To Mr Conolly : It was very improbable the spinal inflammation would cause an injury to the shoulder joint. To Mr Rogers: Symptoms of the inflammation might take three weeks, or even longer, to develop from the concussion. F. Shaw said Melville was vvell known to him. He called at witness' residence on the evening the accident occurred. He described it, saying he had fallen off a load, and had been picked up on the road. He had contused wounds on the head, tilled with gravel, which witness dressed at his shop, and sent him home. He suggested to Melville if he were no better in the morning he should remain in bed, and consult a doctor. Melville called again next morning, and said he felt much better, and had the wounds redressed. He saw deceased for ten successive mornings, and often at night, too, and during that time he complained of stiff neck and dazed feeling in the head. He also prescribed for him as he complained of being unable to eat. The tenth morning he complained of pain in his spine. He told deceased he had better see his doctor. He met him occasionally after that in the street. To Mr Conolly: Melville had a great fear of going to the hospital. He said nothing when he told him to consult a doctor. He did not consult witness after he told him to see a doctor. .To Mr Rogers : Melville was always a thin man. He had not noticed him getting thinner. To the Coroner : When he told him to consult a doctor it did not strike him there was anything internal the matter with him, but that he was weak from loss of blood. He treated him for external injuries. When he complained of pain in the spine he told him to consult a doctor. W. B. Parker said he employed deceased casually. He sometimes drove a dray. On January 15th he was sent for chaff on the Old Renwick Road. About five o'clock he returned. His head was bleeding and tied up with a handkerchief, and he seemed much knocked about. Melville said that in trying to shift a bag he over-balanced and fell off the dray. He sent Melville home, as he seemed dazed, and did not see him again for a fortnight, as he was away some days in Wellington. On his return he went to see deceased, who said he exdeeted to be all right in a week or so. He complained of pain in the spine and loss of appetite. He advised him to see a doctor, and he consulted Dr King. To Mr Conolly: He considered death was the result of the accident. To the Foreman: Melville was a good worker, and very active, but not strong. To the Coroner: He was a temperate man, and was sober on the day of the accident. Walter Francis Newport gave evidence, stating he also drove a dray when sent with Melville for chaff, Deceased fell off the dray at O'Brien's while loading the chaff. He was standing on the frame of the dray pulling up a bag when his hook came out, and he fell backwards on his head to the ground. He was stunned for a few minutes, but said he was alright when he came round again. Melville got up lon the dray again, and they finished i loading it. When Melville fell off they only had five bags to put on the load. They then left, witness being in advance with his load. He did not see Melville again after they left O'Brien's. Deceased had a lull load, and had to walk his horse, and witness had a halfload on a spring dray. The ground where Melvile fell was soft, and he had no marks on his face, except a small scratch on his cheek. Henry Joseph Bernard Chapman said between three and four o'clock on January 15th on the Old Renwick Road he saw deceased with his load. A bag of chaff fell off and Melville went back for it. On leaving the threshing machine where witness was working some few minutes after on his way home he saw deceased lying on the . road at the back of the dray, the bag being alongside him. He was lying unconscious in a pool of blood. He and a mate washed his face and brought him to. He was unconscious a full twenty minutes. Deceased said he fell by over-balancing while shifting a bag after he had lifted up the one that had fallen. From appearances Melville fell on his face and the bag fell on his head. Deceased said he could take his load down alright, and refused witness' offer to do so for him. He seemed somewhat dazed, but climbed on the load, and witness accompanied him some distance along the road. The fall was one of about twelve feet. Mrs Taylor, daughter of deceased, who saw him the night after the accident, also gave evidence. He was then very bad. He described the acci dent that betel him. The description was the same as that given by last witness. Later on. her father complained of his back, and said he could not sleep for the pain. He said he did not think he needed a doctor, as the pain in his back was only stiffness resulting from the fall. He gradually grew weaker and weaker up to the time he went to the hospital. Ho said Dr King said he had muscular rheumatism, and he had suffered before from that. He took the medicine Dr King gave him. The jury returned a verdict that the death of deceased resulted from in*

juries which snpervened from the fall which he had oil the dray. Personal. — Mr .1. W. Welch, representing the Chamberlain Medicine Co., Dcs Moines, lowa. U.S.A., is in town to-day on a business visit. A COMMUNICATION. Mr Editor, —Allow me to speak a few words in favor of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. I suffered for three years with the bronchitis, and could not sleep at nights. I tried several doctors and various patent medicines, but could get nothing to give me any relief until my wife got a bottle of this valuable medicine, which has completely relieved me.—W. S.Brookman, Bagnell, Mo., U.S.A. This remedy is for sale by J. Benniug, Blenheim. For continuation o] rending mutter see first and fourth, pages.