INQUEST AT RANGITATA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2026, 29 March 1890, Page 3

INQUEST AT RANGITATA.

An inquest was held at the Star of the South Hotel, Eangitata, yesterday, touching the death of John Allard Webb, the son of Silas Webb. The district coroner, C. A. Wray, Esq., presided, and the following jury were empanelled : Messrs J. O’Connor (foreman), A. Thompson, P. Gosney, Alex. Gibson, George Barney, and John Brown. The evidence of Ellen Webb, the mother of the deceased, was to the effect that her son was four years of age on the 10th February last. He had been delicate from his birth. On Wednesday last she noticed that the child had a bad cough and could hardly breathe. Had kept him indoors and applied mustard poultices. He gradually grew worse and she sent for her husband, who was absent, Dr Eish was sent for. In the meantime a neighbor who called in identified the complaint as croup. The child died at 12.30 on Wednesday. Dr Eish arrived at about half-past two. He saw the child, and had no doubt as to the cause of death, but could not give a certificate as he had not seen the child before death. The child was well nourished, John Ehaw Hayes, medical practitioner, of Temuka, said that he had made a post mortem examination of deceased. The cause of death was a [ severe form of croup. It was a disease always sudden m its onset, and very fatal. A child would often die within 24 hours from .its first attack. An operation to open the windpipe would have been the only chance to

save life. Medicine would haye been quite powerless. No blame was attached to anyone. A verdict of “Death from natural causes” was returned, and the jury having been thanked for their services were dismissed.