Inquest at Milburn.

Bruce Herald, Volume L, Issue 57, 27 July 1914, Page 5

Inquest at Milburn.

An inquest was hold at Milburn on Wednesday, beforo Mr E W Burton, S ivi, concerning the death of the four-months old child of Mr and Mrs .1 H Stedman, which died on the previous day without medical attendance saving been secured, Dr M'Coruiiok was called in on the morning of tiie child's ueath, but life was extiuct prior to his arrival. He declineu to give the necessary certilicate,und consequently an inquiry was held by the coroner (Mr Burton). The inquiry was conducted by Constable I'ox, and following are tho principal points, in tho evidence submitted:—

Dr W M M'Cormick, medical practitioner, stilted that Ho was present at the birth of the child, wmoh was apparently healthy, but suffered from slight nasal obstruction, Saw the child three times during the ten days after birth; the last occasion oeing March iiist. The child was then still suffering from the slight nasal obstruction, but otherwise doing as well as expected, and was being brought up on the bottle. The mother had not been able to nurse the last tnree babies, which had been brought up on condensed nnlk. Heard nothing further regarding the baby until about Ipm on Tuesday, inst, wnen he was culled to see it, Wtni immediately and 011 arrival round the child dead. Examined the body, which was in a very emaciated siate, but otherwise normal, and tiie opinion lie formed was tiiat the child hud died from malnutrition. The tood it had been receiving was not doing it any good. To tiie Coroner: The fact of malnutrition should have been ovident to any Conimon-aeuse person having charge of jhe infant for some considerable "tirno. Thought Mrs Studman might be misied by the fact that the child had increased 2 lbs in weight since birth, and weighed 7 lbs at time of death, whereas a normal child should have weighvd about double. An ordinary cautious person should, in face of the fact that the chilil was not increasing its weight at a normal rate, nave consulted a doctor or Flunket nurse—one of the latter ueing available in this district twice a wee:;.

tiui'aii -Alice Stfiadman, tho mother, gave evidence regarding tho system 01 feeding die child ou coniensed milli about a Liiuiiill utter birth, This was continued tor about, tliree weeks, una the child did not seem to be thriving"so well «s it should, and she changed tiie iooci, using a ja:ent food, witu which sue continued until Monday night, when the child took ill anu witness and ner husband sat up with it. The child at lust dozed oil', and slept until after i) a in. When the olnifl woke witness bathed her and commenced to dress her, and then noticed sue looked peculiar. Witness rubbed her with olive oil, and gave htr whisky jind water, h v,liicii had previously do_ie the cliihl good when attacked with wind. Witness then sent lor ;a neighbour, Mrs L lieid, who came immediately and remained until after tue doctor s arrival. When Mrs Reid came the immediately sent foi witness'sjiusband, who telephoned for the doctor. The child was kept warm with warm clotiiing and a hot water bag, and about noon it occurred to witness that she was dying. Thougno the child was dead wJieu the doctor arrived. Did not occur to witness to seek medical advice previously, because some of her otiier children hud been as small as deceased till some time alter birth,and were now strong, healthy children. Had live other children ; two hoys and three girls. The last did not tnrive until about nine months old. To Constable Jfox: The deceased was the first of the children to die, and it had never occurred to her that tne child's condition was dangerous until a few hours befoie death.

L/rM'Uoimick was recalled, and stated tlie motner's methods had been tae butt tuat could have been attempted during tne three hours preceding death, J?rom tlie child's appearance alter death it was doubtful whether he could have saved its life even if called in the previous night. Tlie emaciation had gone too far.

Evidence was also given by the father (John Henry Steadman), aud Mrs Emily Luoy Raid. Ine latter remarked tiiat although the ohild remained small it did not ooour to her (witness) that its condition was daugcrous. The mother was a competent and careful woman.

The Coroner returned a verdict (1) that the ohild was weak from birth, and unable to assimilate its.food, in consequence whereof it died, according to the medical evidence, of malnutrition; (2) the parent* used all reasonable endeavor to nurse the deceased,- based upon their knowledge and experience with their live previous children, most of whom were, weakly after birth, but are now healthy; (U) medical advice should have been obtained earlier, but the failure to seeksuch advice was not due to such reckless disregard to their duties as parents as should subject them to a criminal charge.