HAWKESBURY.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 39, 17 November 1864, Page 3

HAWKESBURY.

(From our own Correspondent.)

November 14, 1864

An inquest was held at the Itoyal Hotel, on Satuiday afternoon, before the coroner, J. \V. Murdoch E*q., touching the death of Mary Fell, aged two aml-ii-half years, the daughter of Mr (J. Fell, of Beach-street, Ilawkesbury. The jui , } consisted of the following gentleman viz : — Messrs James, (foreman), Ro«s, Price, Alcock, Wilson, Leith, M'Giegor, Valentine, Keniiaid. Franks, Dunnan, and Justice. The jury having \iewed the body, the cot oner reinaiked tliat the had met her death very suddenly. Two medical men had, however, been in attendance a short time, but not *;o long as they ought perhaps to h ive been. He ti listed that the medical testimony as to the cause of death would be satisfactory, and he hoped it would not be necessaiy to have a " post mor f ern " examination, a course that he was averse to.

Charles Fell sworn —I reside at Hawkesbury; the deceased Mary Fell is my child.; she was taken ill about 9 o'clock on Wednesday evening, the 9th inst.; she had been quite well previous to that, and generally was a healthy child ; sne seemed dull on Wednesday afternoon; I did not call in medical assistance until the following morning; I sent for Dr Drury; he came, and saw the child during my absence ; she died about four o'clock on Thursday afternoon.

By the Foreman—l had no' suspicion of her has ing taken anything to do her harm.

George Dixon Drury sworn stated —I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Ilawke-^bury; I was called in on l'huisday moining last, to see the deceased Mary Fell; I found her -uffering from stertoious bieathingor lattles; I prescribed for her; it was about 11 o'clock in the forenoon when I saw the child ; she was suffering fiom inflammation of the stomach ; this may have been prodpeed by various causes—in this case impossible to pay—it may have been from something eaten, or taking cold. I amot opinion that it v\as caused by cold ; I prescribed for the child, but she continued to get worse; I saw her again about four o'clock in the afternoon ; the symptoms as i.ir as I haw were those that would lesult from a \ioknt cold, which, if causing in flammatun in a child so young, would produce death in a very short time.

J>y the Foreman—l considered the child in a dangcious stdte when I was fitst called m ; the body would present the appearance it does from the causes of death I have stated.

By a Juror —Severe cold in the stomach would cause death in fouv hours, if inflammation has set in ; under certain circumstances might cause a tendency to sleep; inflammation ol the stomach w ill cause diarrhoea, and will cause coldness in the extremities, in the latter elage previous to death; 1 think I was sent for about nine or ten o'clock, and saw the child shortly after ; I was attending some patients at my house when I was Bent for, and could not get away earlier ; I have never seen a case of poisoning by " tutu,;" I gave the child an emetic, which had no effect, except bringing up some froth ; I believe that was the only medicine she took, although I prescribed aud sent medicine for her.

Joseph Crocome sworn states —I am a duly qualified medical practitioner; I was, called in on Thursday last, to see a child of Mr Fell's ; I fouiul the child in a dying state; this was towards the afternoon ; I think about three or four o'clock; 1 cannot bay what the child was laboring under, as she was too far gone for mc to form an opinion ; I mean from what I saw I can form no opinion ; violent cold might produce the appearances I saw, and so might other causes; 1 have no reason to suppose that the child had eaten anything deleterious ; from what J have htard I am of opinion that the child died irom either inflammation of tin.- stomach, or gastric fever. By a Juior—l never knew a death so sudden from cold—a person may be suffering from a cold some time before it becomes \iolent. 1 saw the body of the deceased to-day; 1 did not notice whether it was discolored or not.

Elizabeth Smith sworn, stated—l am the aunt of the deceased Mary Fell. She was taken ill about 9 o'clock on Wednesday night. She seemed to be suffering from diarrhoea all night. Theie

was no medicine presented to her until between 9 and 10 o'clock next day, Mr Ancell saw the child first. He gave us some rhubarb powders and a mixture; she took one of the powders, but nothing el«e. Just after my giving the child the powder, Dr Drury came in and gave her an emetic. This not operating he gave her a second one, which caused her to vomit. I told the doctor of the powder I had given the child ; he said it would do no harm. The child did not seem to get any better. A mustard plaster was also applied to the child's chest, and it did not seem to have any effect. The child died at a quarter to 4 o'clock.

By the Foreman—l do not think that anything the child had eaten or taken as medicine was the cause of death, but that it v\as from inflammation of the stomach.

The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict, "Death from natural causes, brought on by inflammation."

The funeral was most numerously attended, more ho than any that has taken place here. The coffin was borne by live young gills, dressed in white, and the sen ice was most impressively'read by the Rev A. Dasent. The Prince of Wales' birthday was observed here as a general holiday. There was a match at Ciicket played between married aud sintzle teams—R. Nelmes being captain of the former, and G. Scott that of the latter. The play was not so good as anticipated, although piobably quite up to what might have been expected, considering tbere had been no practice beforehand. The total number of scores obtained in both innings by the married team was 129, and by the single team 94; the Litter were therefore beaten by 35 runs. I have just heard that the inquest upon the child was held in consequence of the Registrar of Deaths refusing to giant certificate of buiial at the last moment, without buch inquiry being made.