INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1341, 16 May 1885, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was held before J. S. Boswick, Esq,, Coroner, in the Crown Hotel, i’emuka, yesterday, touching the death of May Burcbill Smith Anstead, daughter of Frederick William Smith Anstead, teacher of the Milford School.

F. W. Smith Anstead : 1 am the father of the deceased, and teacher of the Milford School. The deceased took ill on Sunday evening last. She seemed to have a cough, and to struggle for breath. I gave her ipecacuanha wine. She was better on Monday, On Tuesday evening she began to get worse, The breathing was bad. I gave her some expectorants to promote expectoration, and they seemel to bring the phlegm from the chest, She passed a troubled night, and on Wednesday morning she appeared no better. I asked Mr Wareing about 8.30 on Wednesday morning to send a messenger for the doctor. About 11 o’clock the child was able to stand up in her bed, and seemed better; her breathing being easier. The doctor reached there about 4 p.rn. The distance is about five miles. At 11.30 sun. I went into the school, and came out about 1.30, when I found her in a state of coma. I waited for some time for the doctor but when he did not come, I put her in a warm bath of turpentine and mustard, which is the usual remedy for arousing one out of a comatose state. The bath had no effect on her ; she never rallied, and she died immediately after the bath. I have soma knowledge of medicine. I ' did the best I could. She was three years and six months old, Her mother and myself were attending to her. John Shaw Hayes : I am a duly qualified medical practioner. On Wednesday I got a message about II a.m. to go and see one of Mr Anstead’s children at Milford. I had to attend urgent cases which prevented my going immediately, I reached there about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and Mr Anstead told me the child bad been dead for two hours. The treatment of the father was fairly good domestic treatment. From the description Mr Anstead has given, I should tnink the child died from inflammation of the wind-pipe. I think, even had I got there in time, nothing but an operation would have been of any use. Such cases are very desperate ; death is almost certain, and the only chance is to make an opening for the air to get into the lungs. The Coroner said there appeared no evidence of negligence on the part of the parents, and a verdict to the effect that the child died from natural causes was returned.