DEATH OF AN INFANT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1076, 30 July 1912, Page 3

DEATH OF AN INFANT.

SHOCKING STATE OF AFFAIRS. WELLINGTON, July 27. The following special from Christchurch is published in the Post this evening :—The death of an infant at Christchurch, brought under the notice oi Mr H. W. Bishop, District Coroner, the shocking affairs of a family in the city. The infant, Eeo David F. Williams, was about five weeks old. It weighed 51b. when it was born, and 31b. when it died. The mother, according to her own statement, kept herself and two other children on 5s a week supplied by the Charitable Aid Board. The police state that it is one of the worst cases of the kind that has come under their notice, and the doctor who made the post mortem examination stated that he hard never seen a parallel case, except in the plaguestricken districts of India.

At the inquest, Selina Williams, the mother, stated that she lived in Kent street. Her husband was a bottle gatherer, and was a mental degenerate. They had lived apart since January last. The child was born in St. Helen’s riospital on June xSth last. Witness remained there for thirteen days, and suckled the baby up to last week, and then put it on the bottle. She gave it a dessert spoonful of milk to two dessert spoouslul of water and a little barley. It did not seem to thrive. It weighed 51b. at birth. It looked ill on Thursday, but she did not call in a doctor, as she thought it was alright. She bathed it every morning, but did not notice that it was wasting. It cried a little, but only weakly. It died at 9 a.in. On that day at 8 a.m. she noticed that it looked worse. It took a little drink at 7 a.m. It was so puny that she was afraid to even wash it. She had Oeeu assisted by the Charitable Aid Board, from which she received 4s tor groceries weekly, is ror meat and 5s tor rent. That was all the help she had had foi herself, her little boy (five years of age) and her little girl (18 months old). She used to go for an occasional meal to her father, who was an olu age pensioner. She aid not like to complain 01 the small allowance from the Board for food. She thought that she would not get any more if she asked for it. Dr De Renzi stated that he had made a post mortem examination. The body was extremely emaciated. The cause 01 death was marasmus.

Constable Baird stated that the body weighed 3IE The house occupied by the mother consisted of tour rooms, it was unfit lor habitation, it was very poorly furnished, but fairly clean. He saw no lood about the house. The father was mentally deranged, and only laughed when spoken to. Mr Bishop returned a verdict in accordance with Dr De Reuzi’s evidence.