R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3636, 11 October 1890, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON-FRIDAY, (Before Col, Eoberts, R,M.) BEAHD V. HEGGIK. (Continued,) %ma Russell, swom, stated she was a widow and went out nursing. She had done so for some time past when engaged. She had eight children alive and was the mother of fifteen; She waiengaged by Mrs Heggie in November, 1887, to nurse! her. Dr Beard had been there before she arrived. Mrs Heggie was "densely" ill when she saw her. This was about 2 o'olock oil the afternoon of Wednesday, November 23rd. Sho was in bed when witness arrived and was flooding severely, Dr Beard came in some time during the evening, He was called out soon afterwards, but returned' iii about an hour, staying till four o'clock in the morning.' The doctor did not speak to her about his first visit. The second time he oame he wanted Mss Heggie to take medieine f but she refused,' stating that she wanted Dr Hosking., Dr Beard stated that he gave, her medicine, but she (Mrs Heggie) Sfijfl he did not, Witness the?!, gave hor. brandy. Dr .fteawj asked. her- to, "ii?s up, and she • sjiid, "• 1. op'ti and without Dr Hosking I won't." The woman was in agonies of labour pains, Dr Beard did not examine her : whilst witness was m the room. When questioned about

A V the patient, the.doctor said she : . doing favorably. Witness knew she was not, and said," Can't. you do something?" The doctor replied, ' "Tut, tut, what do you know about it?" and walked into the kitchen, She did not see l)r Beards make any examination. Witness gave the woman brandy and water and she kept fainting, The doctor was not present when she was fainting. . There was .very much discharge before four o'clock, when it ceased/as did. also the pains. Dr Beard left, at four in the morning and returned about eleven. He then He was in a hurry, but said he would be back againat four.- Did not see. the doctor .examine her lhia time. The dootor did 'n'ot inquire frow^ witriesshow thepatient wasprogressing. Had been jii the same, house with the doctor before, and had done as he wished her. On this occasion he ■ did not ask her to do anything beyond ; give her ihourishment.,; The woman was dying when the doctor called at. eleven o'clock and had .fainted during . the morning. Her .face, li'ands ah^^^Bß lips turned purple. Did, not tell tI^MRB doctor what .she thought about the case." The' next - time Dr Beard called the o&se to all over. Between 1 twelve and ono o'olock she sent Heggie for Dr Hosking, ' saying the woman was dying,' Dr Hosking came immediately; She _%as ' then quiet and . could not, speak • ; Dr Hbsking said, " Oil, good God, she's Mrs Heggie had ! fainted two or three . times' between : th'a-ti'y-Dr ' «• left and Dr Hosking came. Dr gave the patient no physio ...■ whilst witness was there. There wasa small bottle of medicine on the table after Dr Hosking left. Witness ■ would say that the woman was delivered within ten minutes after . Dr Hosking came in first. The doctor went away, but came again during the day. Dr Beard came again during the afternoon, but it was all over then, She asked Dr Beard several questions about the. .patient, but he refused to answer. Between the time ho left in the morning and returned again at eleven o'clook Dr Bearikjt said the woman had been progressing^ l^?' favourably. Witness noticed a great change. By Mr Beard: She got lier living any way by, hard work, She went out nursing, washing and scrubbing. She was not a professional nurse. She had been called by Mrs Heggie. Had been called several times by Dr Hosking and had attended, his patients. Understood the various symptoms pretty well. When witness went into Mrs Heggie's there were three women present. Mrs Heggie had a very , bad time. Dr Hosking eaine in after dinner time on the day following that on i which Dr Beard atteuded, When , he came in he said, "Oh God, she's ' dying." At this stage tho witness complainedof feeling unwell and subsided in the witness box, Her examination i was therefore abandoned by Mr i Beard. Elizabeth Heggie, sworn, deposed , that she remembered November of i 1887, in which month she was coni fined. On tho 28rd of November Dr /•, : Beard was sent .for, His first visit -»\ r was between one and two'o'olock in P* , the afternoon. Told the doctor what . had happened, and He gave her somo ( medicine which lie said would stop/../ ' i the flooding. Dr Beard was awarJi^ [ that the confinement was [ Took,two doses of the :meclioiho, and" 1 , immediately after taking it'she fainted i oft, _ The dootor came again the same ■ evening and said "How are you .■ i getting on?" Told him the medicine I had taken no effect, and he replied ! that it would have to take its time, [ He left about four o'clook in the ; morning, but returned at 11 o'clook. . Told him she could keep nothing on j her stomach and asked him if he j could not do anything for her. He. j replied that he could do nothing., [ Told him that Dr Hosking was thei only one who could relieve her, anl i he said " I'll send for Dr Hoskingwhen I want him.' 1 Dr Hosking: oame in the afternoon, and told them i not to lift her head, giving her eggs and brandy. Ho gave her somei ; physic, and he had not been there' i half an hour before it was all oyer. [ She lmd'hardly had a day's freedom i from sickness since, through Dr . Beard's negleot. Dr Hosking said. , said she would nevor be right again. | She was being attended by Dr Hosking two or three months after her k* , confinement, Had offered Dr one guinea for his services. Dr' v i Hosking had recommended her to ; pay this amount, By Mr Beard,: Dr Beard would ft. not take {lie guinea, Took two doses of the medicine-sent by Dr^-Beard, She was .very ill then. Sent for tha doctor only once after his first visit Immediately after Dr Hosking Oama she began to get better. > | Hannah Stone deposed that she resided on the Manaia, and went out nursing. In November, 1887, she was nursing a woman named Mrs Davenport, who was being attondeJ by Dr Beard. Remembered Dr Beard coming one night, but had no conversation then about Mrs Heggie, Asked him during one day how Mrs Heggie was getting on. Ha replied that she was dangerously ill and did not think she would get through. ■ Asked him why he did not caU in, another dootor, and he sad it was-ho use, it was too late. This was on November 28rd, Had no further conversation with tho doctor. Sho was an old friend of Mrs Heggio's and knew therefore that she had not been woll sinos her confinement. To Mr Beard: The date of her "V conversation was the 28rd ofNovem- v ber threo years ago, about 12 o'clock - in the morning. Asked' him howMrs Heggie- ; ws, : and/hfc isaid she. was dangerously ill. Could not say whether Dr Beard had attended.Mra A Hcggio more than once before conversation with him. " She had not spoken to Mrs Heggie about tho case and did not make it a rule to go gossiping. To Mr Bunny ■ The statements referred to was mado by.Dr Beard the day after Mrs Davenport's baby was The baby being born on the 28rd, it must thereforehave been the 24th when the doctor spoke to her, David Heggie, defendant, stated lie did not know why the doctor had not sued him before this.- He. had s.ent in His account, but witness had put it in the firo. Told Dr Beard when he went, for him tint lie hail been for Dr Hosking, but he was not liokae.. Had no conversation with Dr Beard about bis first visit. Asked him on the oecasiori of : his ' second j Uow she was doing, and he said she \ was progressing favorably I not bo confined before night, At life requcat.of Mrs Heggie lio went for -Dr Hosking,. whocame on certain' ■ conditions; He left word at. Dr ' t 'V, ' Beard's that DrHosking was coming. : -a_/ When Dr Hosking arrived - he 'said that in another half an. hour he , '' would have wanted neittof hi«i

Beard, The child was bora ttuout ten minutes after Dr Hosliing arrived. His wife bad been left a "cripple, and had not bad a day's health sinoe. ;Dr Hosliing told him this was the result of oonfinoment. Dr Board bad applied to him only 01100 for the money. . To Mr Beard: Mrs Hoggio had been ill over since the confinement. Ho was not a medical man, and could not say whotlier her illness ' ' was duo to tbo mcdioino given by Dr Beard or to what was done by Dr Hosking, Mr Bunny contended that for some reason or other Dr Beard had- been unable to deliver tho wdman of tlio , child. Ho was not entitled _to recovor what ho was now olaimiug, - -,jjftving taken no steps t6 relievo the wornaH. Mr Board said his friend had taken: up the caso' to causo strife in the medical profession. He could only account for tho timo and trouble taken in the caso to tho fact that his learned friend was not a married man ' and did not understand how these * were brought about. „ —Tho Benoh consulrred on tho evidence of Dr Hosking that Dr Beard bad not acted unskilfully. He had, according to tho ovidanco, done all that was necessary. Judgment would bo given for tho plaintiff, witb costs.