Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 7112, 11 May 1880, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. " NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880.

It is satisfactory to know that someone has at length interested himself in the investigation of the circumstances attending the death of John Wilson, which took place rather more than a month ago in the Invercargill Gaol. We noticed the death at tlie time of its occurrence, and were certainly under the impression that the Government would, without tho smallest delay, make a searching enquiry into the truth of the rumours, and indeed positive statements, which were freely bandied about. The story briefly told is, that Wilson, who was a prisoner undergoing sentence, had on various occasions complained to the authorities that he was very ill and quite unfit for work; that he frequently could scarcely breathe ; and that he suffered intense pain in his chest. It is evident that the doctor to whom he applied in his misery thought he was shamming. He was examined on several occasions, and pronounced fit to go to work. All through tho mouth oE March this state of things continued— Wilson saying he was very ill, and the doctor making entries in tho gaol diary that nothing was the matter. On the 23rd of March, Wilson was actually set to hard labour, though the warder who had charge of him said that the mau was evidently in pain. On the 24th there was another interview with the doctor, but it seems that that gentleman adhered to his first opinion, namely, that Wilson was shamming. On the 27th the doctor entered in the diary — " Prisoner Wilson is perfectly able to work, in spite of his complaints of pains in his chest. My firm belief is that he is malingering." There is nothing more in the diary about the case until April sth, and then tho doctor entered — "Found Wilson dead." One is almost surprised to find that he did not say Wilson was shamming to be dead, or that he had diod to prove the doctor wrong, and lie (Wilson) right with regard to the latter's illness. At all events the misery and the pain were over at last, .and according to the law of the colony an inquest was held on the remains. A^>os£ mortem examination discovered the fact that the cause of death was angina pectoris. All the symptoms which had been described by Wilson were therefore fully accounted for, and it became came evident that during th° month of March, whilst the doctor was saying there was nothing the matter, and the man was being compelled to work, he was suffering from an incurable disease which is generally accompanied by the most excruciating agony. The story does not end with Wilson's death. The law provides for au inquest on tho bodies of prisoners who die in gaol. But it is said that in this case six of the men empanelled were either prisoners or gaol officials. We have no reason for supposing that the verdict was not a right one, but those who returned it, mindful of their own position, would have an interest in making matters as comfortable as possible for the gentleman who had acted as Wilson's medical adviser during his last illness, and those who were responsible for his safe custody. The jury, whether prisoners or gaol officials, would not like to offend either the doctor or tho gaoler. They might remember that the one could make it unpleasant for them whilst they were ill, and the other whilst they were well. One solitary concession appears to have been made to Wilson during the last few days of his life. He asked for a cup of tea, and was generously and feelingly supplied with a pannikin of hot water. The gentleman who" has come forward to endeavour to get these circumstances enquired into, and punishment meted out to anyone who may be proved blameworthy in connection with them, is Mr McCaughan, Member of tho House of Representatives for Rivertou. He has written on the subject to ono of the Southland newspapers, and it may be expected will follow up that step by a direct appeal to the Government. Those who know anything about tho management of prisoners, are aware that one of the groat difficulties with which the Medical Officer of a gaol has to contend, is in guarding against cases of malingering. In almost every gaol of considerable size cases of shamming now and then occur, and if one prisoner is successful in carrying out the deception, others are temuted to play the same little game. These men are aeulo enough to simulate diseases which are not easy of detection, and it is often only by the exercise of the most unremitting attention and the adoption of numerous precautions that the doctor is able to say with certainty that a complaining prisoner is not ill. There is therefore no reason for surprise that the Medical Officer of the Invercargill gaol should have looked with suspicion on Wilson's complaint about an illness which gave no visible sign of its existence. But he must have known that the pains of which Wilson told him were amongst the symptoms of a terrible and incurable disease ; and until he had obtained indubitable evidence that the prisoner was shamming, it seems to us that it would have been at all events wiser to have believed what he was told, and to have tried tho usual remedies or palliatives. If this case had happened outside the walls of a gaol would the same medical man have adopted the same course ? Would he have said that, as he had nothing to go upon but the patient's word, the illncH.i did not exist ? The only dilleroncu between tho real and the sup^ posititiousease is thai, in the one there was a motive for shamming— a wish to avoid hard and uuremunerative work — whilst in tho other that inducement would in all probability be wanting. If the Medical Officer hud treated Wilson precisely as he would have treated him had ho been outside tho gaol, but at the same tiiuu caused ;i careful and incessant watch to be kept over him, ho would have done rightly and humanely. He would also have followed the Home practice. It was wrong to incur Llie risk of inflicting torments on a dying mini. It would have been far better to have rim tho risk of being deceived by a

cunning impostor. The mischief cannot now be remedied, but the Government can get an accurate account of all the circumstances, and having obtained it, it will be their duty to say whether the mistake which was made is to be passed over, or whether it was of such a gross character as to merit punishment. The exceptional circumstances attending tho inquest will also require looking into.