INQUEST AT WAKEFIELD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 230, 24 September 1873, Page 2

INQUEST AT WAKEFIELD.

An ioquest was held at the Forest Inn yesterday, before Dr Squires, the Coroner, on the body of Jane Pahl, the wife of a farmer living in Sherry Valley, who died on the previous day. John Frederick Pahl related the circumstances attending his wife's illness at home, and stated that he had brought her to the Forest Inn where on Sunday night j she was taken suddenly worse. He then, proceeded to say : — Mr Coslage went for Dr Oldham, who refused to come. He then said, " They think tho woman is dying:" but Dr Oldham replied; "I cannot come to-night," and shut the window. I then rode down to Dr Oldham to ask him to attend an my wife. When I said she was at the Forest Inn, he said he j would not go there, but said if I would take her to the Wakefield Arms he would come. I told him tbat was impossible, and I was afraid she was dead. I told him I wanted advice, and some medicine if he could not come. He then came down stairs, asked as to her symptoms,* and gave me some medicine. I said, " Well, Doctor, I thought doctors like to see their patients before prescribing for then.." He said *' Yes, but that he would not go up there." He gave me a bottle of medicine, and powders, for which he charged me half-a-guinea. He told me to give her a dose, and then a powder, every hour. Tbat was done, but she continued in fits till about five o'clock on Monday morning, when she died. Robert M. Smith corroborated Mr Pahl 's evidence. The bottle of medicine contained about two wine-glassfuls only ; and the three small powders, of a chocolate color, would have lain on a sixpence.! After taking the medicine, she seemed easier in her breathing. Dr Boor said that he had examined the body, which appeared to have suffered from some wasting disease. The lungs were diseased and tbe liver was congested. There were evidences of recent inflammation of the intestines. The kidneys were shrivelled. The fits arose from the disease of the kidneys. If the deceased had stayed at home she could not have lived long,'jbut the journey in bad weatheraccelerated her death. She died from chronic disease of the kidneys. If she! had been seen by a medical man she might have rallied from the convulsions, but she could not have lived long. It was quite impossible for any man to judge what to ! give as medicine without seeing her. The jury returned a verdict of death' from natural causes, and forwarded to the' coroner, through Mr R, M. Smith, their foreman, the following expression of opinion— " The jury cannot separate without expressing their disapproval of the heartless j conduct of Dr Oldham, in not attending to Mrs Pahl when so earnestly called ugon." |