Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3751, 5 January 1881, Page 2

Inquest.

An inquest was held at the Salutation Hotel this morning on the body of Mrs Charles H. Wilson, who died on the 4th inst. Captain Skene, J.P., was , the Coroner, and the jury was composed of the following gentlemen:—Messrs W. Hetherington, J. Eares, J). Adamson, A. McLoughlin, M. Whitehead, J. Danby, A. Ireland, P. Wood, A. Burns, J. Cocka, J. Townsend (foreman), W. Reddy.

The Coroner said that Dr Kilgour being connected with the case and Mr Brassey and Mr Kenrick being absent, the duty devolved upon him of conducting the enquiry. He left the matter in the hands of the jury whether a post-mortem examination were necessary. Drs Payne and Huxtable were in a position to give evidence on the case.

A juror said he thought that if an inquest was 'Btf^siary, a postmortem examination should be made.

The Coronelfiaid he would take the evidence, aw; then if the medical evidence #as not sufficiently satisfactory a post-mortem examination could be held.

Charles Henry Wilson said he was a mine manager, and husband of deceased. He engaged Dr Huxtable to attend on his wife. He sent for him on the morning of the 27th. He came over, and called several times during the day. The last time he called was about eight o'clock at night. On-the 28th, about one o'clock in the morning, he was called. He got up, and after dressing himself he knocked at his wife's bedroom door, and enquired if he should go for the doctor; He heard his wife s*y that.there was no necessity— that she had every; confidence jn Mrs Devy, and that, if there was any danger, he could easily step across to the doctor's house. About half-past one he heard his wife cry oat, and he tapped at the door a second time, and enquired

again if he should go for the doctor. She said no. At two o'clock he heard his wife cryagain,and he then tapped at the door and said he was going for the doctor. The reply ho got was' that the child was born and that all the danger was over. He was not satisfied with the answer, and went into the room very shortly after, She told him there was no occasion to go for the doctor, that it was all right. Mrs Devy said " it would be a pity to rouse the doctor. He had done her a good turn and did not like to rouse him." He did not go, and at ten o'clock in the morning he sent his son over to the doctor's, telling him that Mrs Wilson had been confined but that he could call in when he was passing. The doctor came abou ten o'clock. He went into the room in which Mrs Wilson was; Witness asked the doctor (Huxtable) how she was getting on. He answered " nicely," or words to that effect. Mrs Devy was attending his wife as a friend. He had heard that Mrs Devy was an experienced nurse. He believed the. nurse attended to his wife well. On the 29fch Dr Hnxtable came in about four o'clock in the afternoon. He said he had prescribed for her. He did not attend her up to the time of her death. He attended on Thursday the 30th, both morning and evening. Mrs Devy still called at intervals. He called in and told witness he had plenty of medicine, and that he was going away to Auckland, and that if deceased got any worse witness was to send for any doctor on the field. On Saturday morning Mrs Wilson became worse and witness sent I for Di- Payne. Dr Payne attended, and visited her frequently up to the time of her death. Dr Huxtable in company with Dr Payne visited deceasrd on Sunday night. Dr Huxtable gave witness' a certificate. Mrs Devy was sober all the time she was with his wife.

To a juror: Mrs Wilson was in charge of Dr Huxtable up to the time of her death. Both Doctors Huxtable and Payne told witness that deceased had not been properly attended to by the nurse. Ann Devy, wife of George Devy, residing in Edward-street, Thames, deposed : My occupation is nurse, and I knew the deceased for the last five yeatfs. I was not engaged as nurse, but went to her merely as a friend. I visited her first on Monday week, Dr Huxtable being present when I arrived. About a quarter to six next morcing I left, after the child was born. About 12 o'clock the previous night, the deceased woke me up, and said she was in pain. [The evidence from this point was unsuitable for publication.] On Wednesday at tea-time deceased complained of being weak. I insider myself competent fo^Sfend a confinement without a mediMTmari? I wanted the doctor fetched, bul Mrs Wilson said she would not have him fetched.

b: n To a juror : I never heard the doctors FtijikcL' any complaint of my mode of of deceased.

r-**Dr Huxtable, deposed—l am a duly qualified medical practitioner, practising at the Thames. I know Mrs Wilson and attended her prior to her confinement. The day previously I was summoned to her house. I visited,her every hour for several hours, and when the bleeding stopped, I left her^elling Mrs Devy tosend for me asißoon^as symptoms were indicated peculiar to tjie. circumstances of the case- I tdld-J^er it was a serious case. I visited deceased4*gain before going to bed, and found the- symptoms were not yet apparent. At 9 o'clock ■ the next morning I received a message to say that "everything hacl passed eff well," and that " I should call when I passed." At 10 o'clock that morning I found deceased in a very weak stated but there was no other serious symptoms. I visited her twice a day until Wednesday night, when I was called, as she was slightly feverisb". I gave her some medicine, and on Tuesday she was considerably better, and continued so until after I had left for Auckland. On leaving, I told Mr Wilson I should be absent for 24 hours, and that if anything unfavoi'able took place he could send for any doctor he wished, and I mentioned that iwq medical men had agreed to look after any cases that required attention during my absence, and jo!d"~-Mr Wilson lo be sure and send if •there -was the, slightest necessity. I was absent three days, missing the first boat. When I arrived on the Thames, I found deceased in a sinking condition. She ■rod on Tuesday morning. I do not that a woman who has not had HKor three years specie! study compe--Hjglljio attend as accoucheur. I was much HjHfaijled that I had not been called. llaHßfeyrie, -being sworn, said I attended ||jPP|Bmsed immediately before death. pE%as sent for on Saturday last, while I, [ was in the hospital, by Mr Wilson to see* his wife on Dr Huxtable's behalf. I found her, in a very high fever—pulse 180 and rising to 190. She was* sensible when I saw hers but she wandered a good' deal. After a few hours she settled down in a state of low muttering delirium. I was with her about six or seven" times a day-till stuigjtied. On Sunday Jpyening I deemed''i^RHp|able to consult with Dr Kilgour^ mid w»r in the evening meeting Dr Huxtable, > who had. just returned, I visited the case with him, and continued ! to do so during the following day. I told Mr .Wilson that in. my opinion this state of things had been brought about by a portion of the placenta having been left behind, and he informed me tha|Dr Huxtable had told him the same. When I saw her, she was about as'bad as she could possibly be. ' I saw Mrs Devy. The present case required educated treatment/ I believe the cause of death was the absorption of poisoned blood into theJf open veins, caused by the decomposition of the placenta remaining. If the woman had said there was a part of the placenta remaining, something might have been done.

Dr Kilgour said —On the evening of Sunday the 2nd, I was requested by Dr Payne to visit the late Mrs Wilson with him. I found her dangerously ill, apparently suffering from the effects of peritennial inflammation, and of blood poisoning. At the time I saw her she was delirious, very restless, with a pulse over 140, but with some moisture on the skin. The case" at that time did aot seem wholly desperate, and having beenconsulted as to the treatment to be'adopted, and finding some results to have followed from it, I strongly" advised at;on< tinuance of the same treatment. With respect to the nature of the complaint it is to be observed that hamorrhage having taken place prior to confinement, the presumption was strong that the relation between the utrix and the placenta was faulty, the utmost care was required to ensure the complete extraction of the placenta. In the course of the evidence' given a ■question has been raised as to the propriety of examining the utrix eight hours after delivery to ascertain whether any portion of the placenta had been left.

Such a proceeding would have been utterly unwarrantable, and wa3 not required by the actual circumstances of the case. Again, cold would not have produced symptoms of blood poisoning, but might have given rise to inflammation' if cold had been shown to exist, which was not the case. The symptoms of which deceased died were those that might have arisen from the retention of a portion of the placenta within the utrix. It would not be safe to entrust a case of this kind to a woman who has had no training, in fact untrained men or women should not have charge of midwifery cases at all, but experience enables midwives and nurses to conduct cases of natural labour safely; but wherever any difficulty occurs, the life of the patient is at once put in jeopardy. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, but found that no blame waa attached to anyone. The Coroner refused to accept this verdict, and the Court was again cleared. The Jury brought in a second verdict, " That the deceased, Mary Ann Wilson, did give birth to a son, and died from natural causes." They also added a rider to the effect " That this inquest was not necessary."