DOCTOR’S LIFE RUINED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 14

DOCTOR’S LIFE RUINED

GAVE WAY TO DRINK DIED IN DELIRIUM Poignant disclosures of how a docj tor's life was ruined by drink were j made at the inquest at Marylebone, | West London, on Dr. Thaddeus Joseph Ryan, aged 33, of Church Street,* Stoke Newington, whose funeral was ■ stopped recently. Dr. Ryan died in Middlesex Hospi--1 tal after a short illness, and his ! death was certilied by a medical man, '• but the registrar did not accept it , and sent it back. Mr. Oswald, the coroner, recorded j a special verdict that Dr. Rj an died ; from heart failure and exhaustion con- , sequent on acute alcoholism. He ex- j I plained that he could not record i a verdict of "death from natural ; causes.” Mrs. Gilde Mary Ryan, the widow, said that they were married nearly' six years ago. Her husband had no illness until just before his death. He had been drinking a good deal for the last two or three years. Her husband had threatened to attack her, and she was afraid for herself and the children. The Coroner: In consequence of all this, I understand you left him?—Yes. What became of his practice?—He still seemed to carry on. His patients were loyal to him. The Coroner: You were intending

to take proceedings for judicial separation. Did he know that? —Oh, yes. When did you last see him alive? — About a month ago. Did you take the children away?— Yes. Had he become worse since you left him? —I think so. In what circumstances did you see him about a month ago?—He came to me unexpectedly, and my maid told him that I would not see him. Dr. John Wesley Pilcher, of Granville Street, Russell Square, said that he had known Dr. Ryan since a year last August. Dr. Ryan had been drinking heavily, and his mental condition had deteriorated. He was confused, and a few drinks would have a marked effect. Dr. Alan McKlnsprey Fleming, house physician at the Middlesex Hospital, said that when Dr. Ryan was admitted on October 30 he was excitable and refused to go to bed.! He threatened to fight, and demanded < his clothes. He took him to be in a I condition of delirium tremens. Dr. Ryan struggled through the night, and i died the next day.