Sudden Death of Dr. Preston, M.D.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2868, 25 April 1878, Page 2

Sudden Death of Dr. Preston, M.D.

It is with feelings of the most profound regret that we have to efcrcuiebth* death of Dr. Perstoo, M,D., Btifea. to the Thames Hospital, which tookpteoe athia residence, I'ollen street, at a little aft** £ eleven o'clock to-day, through, it if ; jba» lieved, his taking an overdos* of «biof*£. The deceased gentleman has been ailing, for some time past, latterly hit indisposition having takes! the form of rheumalio gout, with which he was laid up some months back. However, of late .he has appeared to enjoy, pretty/ fair health and has been able to keep np^hif practice until yesterday, iwkem hie waa obliged to take to his bed. This morning he refused to see ■ person requiring medical attendance, as he said he> was not well enough, and these were the lass words he was heard to utter. , About half an hour afterwards a servant found him in the; closet apparently in a fit of some kind or another, hia lips being pet> fectly black and his face livid, and lying as still as if he had already expired. The woman procured the assistance of Messrs Ahier, Hudson and Townsend, who carried him inside the house, aid Dre. Payne and O'Flaherty were speedily in attendance. • Although he never re* gained consciousness, he appeared to come round a little shortly after the arrival of the doctor*, and as his pulse was strong, Dr. Payne expressed an opinion that he would recover. The attendance of the doctors being required at the Hospital, they took their leave, but ere half an hour had elapsed word was brought round that Dr. Perston had , expired, which waa found to be the fact. Dr. Payne informed car representative that he had no doubt but that the oause of death was an overdose of hydrate of chloral, which, it appears, the dcocassd gentlemen has been in the habit of taking in dangerous quantities for the purpose of allaying the pain of hia disease* aad enabling him to obtain rest. It was not considered necessary to hold an inquest.