AN UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7173, 8 October 1888, Page 6

AN UNQUALIFIED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.

&n adioaroed inquest was resumed at Hotel, St. Albans, at 4 Sm. ot Saturday, touching the death of Eydia Dβ La Mare, which occurred saddenlyonSeptember24th. • iff B. Beetham, Coroner, presided, and the foreman of the jury was Mr Alex. Inspector Pender conducted the inquiry, and called the following evidence :— Glanville Dte La Mare deposed he was a brother of the deceased, who was single, and twenty-fire years of age. The deceased suffered for four years from consumption, and was not attended regularly by a medical man. Through an advertisement in the papers he had become acquainted with a person who styled himself Dr. Wooton, and he attended deceased. Witness had an interview with him regarding the deceased's state of health. Had paid during five months for fees, medicine, and two batteries about £25 in aIL They received from him a pamphlet, stating the examinations he had passed, and the books be was author of. The prescriptions and bottles of medicine produced were obtained from him. The deceased considerably improved for the first two months under Dr. Wooton'a treatment. She then caught a very bad cold, which was followed by an attack ofjpleurisy, and she got worse again. The letters produced witness received from Dr. Wooton. In the last letter received from him Dr. Wooton resigned his position as the deceased's medical attendant. Witness had applied at his house for a certificate, and his housekeeper said that Dr. Wooton had left town. Had not seen him since. The doctor did not make any representations as to what he wta beyond that stated in' his advertisements and in th# pamphlets. The deceased got suddenly worse at theJast. Two brothers had previously died of the same complaint. The Coroner said that Dr. Wooton had been subpaenaed. but had written stating he had forwarded an affidavit. He expressed his inability to attend, as he was suffering from an incurable form of heart disease which might terminate fatally at any moment, and which had been intensified by the worry of the present case. He referred the Coroner to Dr. Colquohoun, of Dunedin, under whom he had studied at home. A certificate from Dr. Townend as to Dr. Wooton's state of health was also read. Dr. C. M. Anderson deposed that he had Blade a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased on the 25ch September. The external appearance of the body was such as was natural in the case of a person who i had died of a lingering disease such as consumption.' There were no marks of Injury ox any kind. He opened the chest j and found the left lung was almost gone, and it was very firmly adherent to the wall of the chest. The upper half of the right lung was also in a consolidated state, but not so far advanced in disease as the left. It was also firmly adhering to the chest ■wall. The lower half had small deposits at tabercle, but the tissue was otherwise comparatively healthy. The patient would have been able probably to get sufficient air in that portion to enable her to live as long as she did. The heart appeared to be weak, but there was no Talvular disease apparent. He arrived at the conclusion that the patient had died In an advanced state of consumption. Death had probably been'accelerated by the weak state of the heart. Did not think it would have been possible for her to live. With regard to the prescriptions, to far an he had seen, there was nothing of an injurious character in them, providing, of course, that the doses were taken as ordered. The chief thing that struck him was the tremendous amount that had to be swallowed. The taking of such a large quantity as ordered would have the effect of filling the stomach, and leaving less room for nourishment than was required. Had made a rough calculation of the medicine to be taken. It had to be diluted -with water, and taking medicine and water in equal portions it would mean that she would have to take 14Joz daily. Could not say that the actual quantity of drugs In the medicine would act injuriously on the patient. Had never met with a regular practitioner who ordered such a large quantity of medicine to be given daily. Mc believed the quantity could have been condensed into 3oz or 4oz with benefit te the patient. From the affidavit of Mr Wooton, it appeared to witness that he had not passed more than half of his degree as a medical practitioner. Did cot think the quantity of medicine taken by the - patient had in any way hastened her end. Mr Wooton had evidently studied medicine, but was not duly qualified. . '. In his affidavit Mr Wooton explained that he had diagnosed the case of the deceased as one of chronic tubercular pulmonary consumption. He rfave copies of the prescriptions for the medicine ordered, and then went on to detail the complications arising from the cold caught by the deceased and the remedies used. He stated the course of studies he had followed at home, and admitted that he was Dot a registered practitioner. In reply to toe Coroner the Foreman said the jury were of opinion that the presence of Mr Wooton was not necessary. The Coroner addressed the jury, who after a short retirement returned a verdict of death from consumption.