INQUEST.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2480, 2 March 1881, Page 2

INQUEST.

SECOND EDITION

An enquiry was held at the Club Hotel at 9 o’clock this morning before H. Beetham Esq., Coroner, and a jury of whom Mr A. J. Parsons, was chosen foreman, touching the death of Violet Robertson, aged 11 months, who died in a railway carriage, while travelling between Ashburton and Timaru, last evening.

Charles Robertson deposed that he was a confectioner, and had lived for many years at Napier. Left that place about a fortnight ago for Christchurch. The deceased was witness’s child, and was eleven months old. The child had been ailing for about three weeks with diarrhoea, turning into dysentry. Witness and his wife and child left Christchurch yesterday morning for Timaru, in oi’der to recruit the child’s health. Dr Anderson attended the child in Christchurch once, and gave it some medicine. On the way from Christchurch the child got worse. It died in the railway carriage, between Ashburton and Timaru, at half past six last evening. On arrival in Timaru witness and his wife reported the death to the police, and the child was examined by Dr Maciutyre. Dr Anderson saw the child once about a week ago and prescribed some medicine for her, but it made her worse, and they went to a chemist and procured some medicine from him of his own prescription. Had been giving the child that medicine for three or four days.

Julia Robertson, the wife of the last witness, deposed that she was the mother of the deceased. After leaving Christchurch yesterday morning the child began to breathe very heavily, also vomited, and then died. Witness had taken the child to Dr Campbell’s chemist at Christchurch. The chemist himself saw the child ; Dr Campbell did not see it. The chemist said that he would give the same medicine that Dr Campbell prescribed to infants suffering from dysentry. Procured two bottles of medicine, for which we paid Is each. Patrick Maclntyre, M.D. deposed to being called to examine the deceased yesterday evening. From the appearance of the body and the general symptoms described by the parents witness was of opinion that death arose from inflammation of the stomach and bowels accompanied by diarrhoea. Had seen the medicine which appeared to be a soothing syrup often prescribed in affections of infants and children. Had heard the evidence of the last witness,and considered that the practice of a chemist prescribing medicine in the manner described a very dangerous and reprehensible one. Did not think in this particular case the medicine prescribed would be injurious. After a brief consultation the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.